For the first time since artist Frank Auerbach won the Golden Lion at the 1986 Venice Biennale, works spanning over five decades of the artist’s prolific career are gracing the city. Auerbach’s exhibition, “Starting Again,” occupies two levels within the majestic Palazzo da Mosto, built by the revered architect Antonio da Ponte towards the culmination of the 16th century. This palazzo, situated in close proximity to the renowned Rialto Bridge (which da Ponte later designed) serves as the distinguished setting for Auerbach’s retrospective. The show, a tribute to Auerbach’s enduring legacy, unfolds in its sophistication from now until June 28th, 2024.
Frank Auerbach in Venice, Curated by Max Levai
Max Levai, the curator behind the exhibition, unveils eleven rarely displayed oil paintings spanning the years 1969 to 2016. With meticulous attention to detail, Levai directs the spotlight onto Auerbach’s key motifs: the portraits of favored sitters and familiar landscapes, captured from his studio in Camden Town, London. In his expert curation, Levai deftly guides viewers through Auerbach’s profound artistic journey, showcasing a mesmerizing array of imagery meticulously crafted with exacting dedication.
These artistic realms, however, are not mere depictions; they are relational worlds constructed through repeated returns—a testament to Auerbach’s profound bond with his environment and subjects, encapsulating the essence of those figures, faces, and forms he deems integral to his oeuvre.
Max Levai, Curator of “Frank Auerbach: Starting Again”. Photo by David Prutting © Max Levai.
Each stroke of Auerbach’s brush extends a prism-like lens into a focused method of creation. Stemming from resilience and boundless exploration, these attitudes enfold his portraits (perhaps more as monumental, tilted heads than mere resemblances) and propel his architectural vistas (angular constructs evoking dense atmospheres, secluded metropolises, and a pulsating resonance of psycho-geography).
In a recent dialogue, Auerbach revealed his iterative approach as one of perpetual refinement, revision, erasure, and rebirth. The struggle inherent in painting echoes through the finished works, where bold strokes bestow a structural fragmentation mirroring constant compositional evolution. Each line quivers with a tender touch, conveying the ephemeral nature of emotion and perception, a yearning for wholeness and resolution amidst the flux of creation.
Installation view of “Frank Auerbach: Starting Again”. Photo by Sebastiano Pellion di Persano. © Max Levai.
Recurring Subjects—Close Friends and Family—in Auerbach’s Paintings
Auerbach’s practice achieves extraordinary depth, both psychologically and biographically, within his works. It is important to note that sitting for Auerbach entails an understanding that paintings will undergo a process of reworking and re-layering until they reach completion. Throughout the exhibition, one encounters a variety of subjects depicted by Auerbach. Among them is Julia Yardly Briggs Mills, a contemporary whom he met during his art school years. As a professional art model and close friend, Julia posed for Auerbach twice weekly for over forty years.
Another prominent figure showcased in the exhibition is Paula Eyles, who appears in paintings spanning a four-year period. Auerbach also has portrayed those closest to him, including his son Jake. Notably, portraits of his beloved wife Julia are consistently rendered in a horizontally oriented manner. Auerbach often titles his works after the depicted subject, inviting viewers to delve deeper into layers of meaning that extend beyond the canvas itself.
Frank Auerbach, “Reclining Head of Julia III”, 1993. Photo by Pierre Le Hors. © Frank Auerbach. © Max Levai.
Auerbach’s artistic legacy, epitomized by his celebrated 1986 exhibition at the Venice Biennale where he won the prestigious Golden Lion, continues to resonate profoundly within contemporary artistic discourse. His dedication to the detailed and meticulous craft of painting, marked by a relentless pursuit of refinement and commitment to artistic integrity, emerges as a symbol of authenticity amidst the ever-evolving currents of the art world.
Auerbach’s bold exploration of the human experience, manifested through the thick impasto and emotive portraiture that characterize his work, captivates viewers on a visceral level, prompting introspection and fostering dialogue about the enduring potency of the painted image. His capacity to infuse his subjects and surroundings with immediacy and emotional depth transcends temporal confines, speaking directly to the universal human condition in a manner that remains both relevant and compelling in the present day.
As contemporary discourse grapples with issues of authenticity, significance, and the role of tradition in an era of rapid cultural transformation, Auerbach’s body of work emerges as a poignant testament to the enduring value of artistic craftsmanship and the timeless resonance of the painterly gesture.
Installation view of “Frank Auerbach: Starting Again”. Photo by Sebastiano Pellion di Persano. © Max Levai.
A Special Installation in Dialogue with the Palazzo da Mosto in Venice
In harmony with the profound narratives woven into Frank Auerbach’s paintings, the venue for his show, Palazzo da Mosto, stands as a testament to history’s enduring embrace. Like Auerbach’s works, the palazzo’s story is rich with layers of significance. It begins with the Muti family, silk merchants from Bergamo, who orchestrated the palazzo’s inception amidst Venice’s transformation into a bustling trade hub.
Over the centuries, the palazzo changed hands, each owner leaving their mark, until it found itself in the care of the Baglioni family. Their contributions, from intricate plasterwork to commissioned frescoes, imbue the palazzo with a sense of permanence, echoing the timeless resonance found within Auerbach’s art. As visitors traverse the halls of Palazzo da Mosto, they are not only greeted by Auerbach’s masterpieces but also enveloped in a narrative that speaks to the eternal spirit of creativity and legacy.
Installation view of “Frank Auerbach: Starting Again”. Photo by Sebastiano Pellion di Persano. © Max Levai.
