Head of Leon Kossoff
Painting on paper or board • Attributed to Frank Auerbach
Style & Movement
London School of Painting / Post-War Expressionism
Medium & Technique
High-impasto oil painting utilizing wet-on-wet technique with heavy layering and possible palette knife application.
Creation Period
Late 20th Century (circa 1960s-1970s)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 20 cm, vertical portrait orientation
Subject Description
A densely layered portrait of fellow artist Leon Kossoff, rendered in a palette of ocres, yellows, and blacks with hints of pink. The features are submerged within a thick, topographical application of paint that emphasizes the physical presence of the medium over literal depiction.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; the structural integrity of the heavy impasto appears stable, though there is visible surface texture and typical aging of the oil binder.
Estimated Market Value
$150,000 - $300,000 (if authenticated as a primary work)
Auction Estimate
$100,000 - $250,000
Provenance History
Unknown; subject matter and style suggest a connection to the 20th-century London art scene and the circles of the Beaux Arts Gallery artists.
Art Historical Significance
Auerbach is a central figure of the School of London. His portraits are significant for their 'existential' weight and obsessive reworking, often capturing the psychological essence of a few close friends through years of repetitive sittings.
Notable Features
Extreme impasto depth; distinctive linear 'drawing' into the wet paint using the back of a brush or palette knife; high sculptural quality characteristic of Auerbach’s most intense periods.
Condition Issues
Possible surface dirt and minor cracking (craquelure) due to the extreme thickness of the oil medium over time. Potential slight discoloration of the yellow pigments.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning by a specialist in modern British art; UV-protected glazing; stable climate control to prevent expansion/contraction of the thick paint layers.