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Freeth portrays himself as the epitome of stiff-necked, youthful insouciance, though underneath is an uncertain young man. The down-turned mouth, pallid bluish-pinkish features, arched eyebrows and abysmal eyes create a kind of enfant terrible mask – self-consciously determined to give nothing away. The ochre highlights to the hair, and the glowing collar do not lighten the tone: there is a coldness to their refulgence. The abstracted background is reminiscent of contemporary abstract painting. Freeth wrote of seeing his painting: ‘Excuse my delay in answering... I really had no recollection of the painting... How this portrait brings back (almost) lost thoughts and sensations!... What it does is make me remember all the uncertainty of being a young art student, the anguish and self doubt under the wafer thin veneer of arrogance and high seriousness’.
Title
Self Portrait
Date
c.1958
Medium
oil on board
Measurements
H 32 x W 47 cm
Accession number
PCF38
Acquisition method
acquired by Ruth Borchard as part of the original collection
Work type
Painting
