Bella Freud ('Bella in her Pluto T-Shirt')
- Artist: Lucian Freud
- Date: 1995
- Medium: etching
- Dimensions: 31 in. x 27 in. (787 mm x 685 mm) overall
- Portrays: Isobel ('Bella') Lucia Freud
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
Before you is an etching by Lucian Freud from 1995. It shows Bella Freud, a fashion designer, in her iconic Pluto T‑shirt. Notice the crisp lines that frame her face; the artist had to erase and redraw the head twice, producing the final open‑eyed expression. Over more than a year’s work, at least four variations were tried before Freud settled on the finished version. He collaborated with printer Marc Balakijan to bring it all together.
See it in person
Bella Freud ('Bella in her Pluto T-Shirt') is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
