"Full, saturated colours have an emotional significance I want to avoid"

Lucian Freud, a prominent British painter known for his intense and unflinching portraiture, made a statement that provides insight into his creative philosophy: "Full, saturated colours have a psychological significance I want to avoid." This quote exposes several layers of understanding about Freud's technique to art.

To start with, Freud's intentional avoidance of "complete, saturated colours" recommends a mindful effort to avoid overt emotionalism in his work. Saturated colors, by their nature, evoke strong and immediate psychological responses. They can frequently be associated with vibrancy, delight, passion, and even aggression. By shunning saturated colors, Freud appears to be pursuing a more controlled, subtle, and maybe more real representation of his subjects. This choice aligns with his commitment to realistic and raw portrayals of the human kind, allowing for an exploration of depth, texture, and the complex interaction of light and shadow.

Additionally, Freud's preference for muted or controlled schemes can also be analyzed as an attempt to focus attention on the kind, structure, and psychological depth of his topics, rather than relying on the psychological shorthand that color can offer. By working with a restrained palette, Freud may be motivating viewers to engage more deeply with the caretaker's expressions, body language, and the complex details of the flesh, rather than being swayed by the immediate effect of dynamic hues. This approach recommends a fascination with the mental dimensions of his sitters, revealing their inner lives through careful detail rather than through symbolic color.

Lastly, Freud's statement can likewise be seen as an indicator of his personal aesthetic values, favoring authenticity and psychological sincerity over drama. He may have perceived saturated colors as a potential distraction from the reality he sought to record, preferring instead to represent the human condition in its unembellished state. In essence, the quote encapsulates Freud's devotion to depicting life with a stark credibility that requires a more nuanced engagement from his audience.