Artwork
Small Head
Small Head is a print by Lucian Freud. It dates from 1988 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Small Head is an etching produced within a limited series of 143 state, trial and cancellation proofs created by Lucian Freud. The work belongs to a group of prints that remained unpublished, and only three proofs are known to survive. It measures as a modestly sized portrait, focusing on a single head rendered in Freud’s characteristic observational style.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts the head of Susanna Chancellor, a frequent sitter of Freud, though the work was initially catalogued without a title. The intimate scale and close-up treatment emphasize the psychological presence of the sitter, aligning with Freud’s broader interest in the nuanced expression of his subjects.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the print reflects the collaborative process between Freud and his long‑time printer Marc Balakjian, who began working with the artist in 1985. The proof shows Freud’s meticulous line work and tonal variations achieved through multiple states, revealing the artist’s iterative approach to surface and texture.
History & Provenance
The proofs originated from the Studio Prints collection of Marc Balakjian (1938‑2017), who served as Freud’s printer and overseer of his print editions. Though listed as a unique piece in some sales records, research documented in the 2022 catalogue raisonné confirms the existence of two additional proofs. The work has not been formally published.
Context
Created during the later phase of Freud’s career, the print belongs to a period when the artist explored portraiture through printmaking, often collaborating closely with Balakjian to translate his painted techniques into the etched medium. This practice allowed Freud to experiment with line, wash, and tonal depth outside the canvas.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucian Michael Freud (; 8 December 1922 – 20 July 2011) was a British painter and draughtsman, specialising in figurative art, who is known as one of the foremost 20th-century English portraitists.
