"I remember Francis Bacon would say that he felt he was giving art what he thought it previously lacked. With me, it's what Yeats called the fascination with what's difficult. I'm only trying to do what I can't do"

Lucian Freud draws attention to the personal motivations and philosophies that propel his artistic process. By referencing Francis Bacon, he highlights a shared pursuit among artists to confront perceived deficiencies in art itself. Bacon, a contemporary and fellow British painter, famously sought to inject raw emotion and psychological intensity into his works, believing that previous traditions fell short of capturing essential aspects of human experience. Freud admires and acknowledges such ambition, suggesting that artists often grapple with art history’s gaps and strive to make their own contribution by addressing what has not yet been fully realized or represented.

For Freud, however, the motivation takes on a different flavor, what W.B. Yeats referred to as the "fascination with what's difficult". Rather than simply attempting to fill a void in art, Freud is drawn to the challenge itself, to the pursuit of objectives that resist easy realization. The allure lies not in replicating what is already achievable, but in pushing the boundaries of his own skill and understanding as an artist. This attitude speaks to a relentless experimentation and a refusal to rest on comfortable techniques or subject matter. Freud’s approach is more existential, focusing on personal growth through persistent effort and engagement with artistic difficulty.

By stating, "I'm only trying to do what I can't do", Freud captures the perpetual state of striving that marks his art. He articulates an artistic ethos centered on continual self-challenge, underscoring the value of ambition and the courage to embrace uncertainty. This perspective turns each painting into a field of exploration, where success is measured less by meeting past standards and more by confronting, and perhaps momentarily bridging, the gap between current ability and aspirational vision. Freud's reflection invites us to understand artistic creation as an unending journey with difficulty as its most compelling companion, fueling innovation and personal evolution.