The art world is mourning the loss of Frank Auerbach, the renowned British painter who passed away last week at the age of 93. Auerbach, who arrived in Britain as a child refugee in 1939, leaves behind a remarkable body of work that testifies to his uncompromising dedication to his art.
A Life Shaped by Tragedy and Art
Born in Berlin in 1931, Auerbach was sent to Britain via the Kindertransport at the age of seven, escaping the horrors of Nazi Germany. Tragically, his parents would later perish in concentration camps. This early trauma undoubtedly shaped Auerbach’s worldview and his approach to art.
Discovering his artistic vocation at the age of 25, Auerbach embarked on a career that would consume him for the rest of his life. He established a studio in London’s Mornington Crescent, where he would work tirelessly, seven days a week, often from 7 am until 9 pm.
An Obsessive Approach to Painting
Auerbach’s dedication to his art was legendary. He would paint the same subjects—a handful of close friends and a few London landscapes—over and over again, scraping down and reworking each canvas countless times until he achieved a result he could live with. This obsessive process resulted in paintings with thick, textured surfaces, built up from layer upon layer of pigment.
As I have got older, it is just the doing of it that is the fun, and nothing beyond that matters at all. I have just been so lucky to get up in the morning, every morning, and be able to do something that may at any point in the day surprise me.
– Frank Auerbach, in a rare interview
A Portrait of the Artist
In 1986, photographer Jane Bown captured a striking portrait of Auerbach for The Observer. The image shows the artist in his studio, his clothes and surroundings splattered with paint, a testament to his all-consuming creative process. Bown’s photograph seems to capture the very essence of Auerbach’s approach to art—a refusal to see any distinction between life and work.
A Legacy of Uncompromising Vision
Throughout his long career, Auerbach remained fiercely dedicated to his singular vision, resisting trends and commercial pressures. His work, characterized by its raw, expressive power, has been widely acclaimed and is held in major collections around the world, including the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art.
As we remember Frank Auerbach, we celebrate not only his artistic achievements but also his unwavering commitment to the creative process. His life and work stand as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of art and the importance of staying true to one’s vision, no matter the obstacles.
Remembering an Artist’s Artist
Auerbach’s passing marks the end of an era, but his influence will undoubtedly continue to inspire generations of artists to come. His legacy is one of uncompromising dedication, a reminder that the true artist’s journey is not about fame or success, but about the daily practice of engaging with one’s chosen medium, of striving to create something meaningful and true.
As we bid farewell to Frank Auerbach, we honor a life spent in service of art, a shining example of what it means to be an artist in the truest sense of the word. His presence will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on through the powerful body of work he leaves behind, a testament to a life devoted to the pursuit of creative truth.
