{"id":495549,"date":"2026-04-14T15:56:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T13:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/numero.com\/non-classifiee-2\/the-day-lucian-freud-painted-kate-moss-naked-and-pregnant-2\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T17:12:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:12:35","slug":"the-day-lucian-freud-painted-kate-moss-naked-and-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/numero.com\/en\/art-design\/art-en\/the-day-lucian-freud-painted-kate-moss-naked-and-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"The day Lucian Freud painted Kate Moss naked and pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Kate Moss and Ellie Bamber @ Instagram of Ellie Bamber<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The National Portrait Gallery exhibits Lucian Freud’s drawings in London<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Primarily known for his figurative paintings, Lucian Freud<\/strong>\u2019s body of work also encompasses a multitude of fascinating drawings. This medium marked the beginnings of his career and practice, up until the 1940s.

Often serving as drafts for the portraits he intended to create, his works on paper are currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery<\/strong> in London. Today, they help us understand the preparatory techniques and long processes of observing subjects used by the painter before starting his canvases. Much like his enigmatic painting of model Kate Moss<\/a><\/strong>, who appears naked, languid and pregnant\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Story of a close friendship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, the top model and the painter were friends. A surprising relationship that Oscar-winning British director James Lucas<\/strong> is exploring in his new feature, presented at the London FIlm Festival in October 2025. Centered on the supermodel’s friendship with the German-born British painter, the project is set in London in the early 2000s, when Kate Moss was living quite a rock\u2019n\u2019roll lifestyle.

While the release date of the film, titled Moss & Freud<\/strong><\/em>, remains unknown, we know that Ellie Bamber <\/strong>(Nocturnal Animals, Willow, The Serpent<\/em>) was chosen by Kate Moss herself to embody her. British actor Derek Jacobi<\/strong> (I, Claudius<\/em>) will portray Lucian Freud. Kate Moss<\/a><\/strong> will be part of the project as she will produce Moss & Freud<\/em> with the support of the Lucian Freud Archive<\/strong>.

In a statement, the so-called \u201ctwig\u201d explained: \u201cAs this is such a personal story of mine, it has been essential that I be involved with James (Lucas) in all aspects as the project has developed. I am thrilled by the recent casting and excited that the film will begin shooting soon. I cannot wait to see it<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kate Moss and Bella Freud in 2005. \u00a9 Photo by Dave Benett\/Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An unlikely friendship between a fashion icon and a painter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 2002, Kate Moss <\/strong>was at the height of her career. She had become one of the most influential supermodels, having helped to create this phenomenon. However, in an interview with Dazed & Confused<\/em>, she revealed that one goal on her bucket list hadn\u2019t been ticked off \u2014 posing for the painter Lucian Freud<\/strong>. The 82-year-old artist would usually ask his subjects to pose in front of his easel for months and, due to a lack of availability in his schedule, Kate Moss<\/strong> had not been able to become his muse. But the publication of that interview prompted Bella Freud, the artist\u2019s daughter and close friend of the model, to arrange a meeting between them, which eventually led to the idea of the portrait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dark, sensual portraits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although they are both British, two eras and two worlds seem to separate Kate Moss <\/strong>and Lucian Freud<\/strong>, an artist with a raw and realistic touch. However, they built a surprisingly close friendship from the early 2000s until the artist\u2019s death in 2011. While the painter born in 1922 devoted himself to portraiture, representing the faces of his inner circle from the 1940s onward, Lucian Freud also painted the most notorious contemporary figures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a dark, carnal colour palette and with a stroke that pushes realism to the extreme, his brush has lingered on the features of renowned British figures rather than superstars. That includes his artist friend Francis Bacon<\/strong> in 1952 and Queen Elizabeth II <\/strong>for her Golden Jubilee in 2001. The portrait of the late sovereign caused a stir because she looked older than she was. A year later, David Hockney<\/strong> also posed for the painter. Nonetheless, he refused to paint the Pope and Lady Diana<\/strong><\/a>, whose glamorous image was too strong for the raw nudity of his paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Une publication partag\u00e9e par Lucian Freud (@lucianfreudart)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n