Frank Auerbach
1956-57
Charcoal and chalk on paper
75.6 x 56.2 cm
Frank Auerbach manipulated effects of light and shadow to achieve this powerful portrait of his close friend. More than a simple likeness, the work is an exploration of the terrain of the sitter’s head as it gradually emerges from the shadows. The play of light and dark, which reveals and conceals Leon Kossoff’s features, enjoins us in a contemplation of the sitter’s physical presence as well as his inner life. Although charcoal was often considered to be a sketching medium, Auerbach used it to create deep and complex standalone works.