Inside the mind of Freud: letters reveal artist’s secret language
LUCIEN FREUD’S letters to his friends and family were often straightforward, especially if he wanted help with money or his laundry.
But even Sigmund, the founder of psychoanalysis, might have struggled to interpret his grandson’s letters to fellow artist John Craxton.
Newly unearthed letters reveal a “private language” the “anarchic” Freud used with Craxton, who in the 1940s was one of his closest friends.
Although Freud was known for his many female lovers, he is thought to have had early gay relationships. Whether Craxton – who was bisexual – was among them is unknown.
Wild streams of consciousness, nonsensical sentences and made-up words are scribbled in erratic handwriting, complemented by eccentric sketches, on around 20 scraps of paper.
Freud addressed Craxton with affectionate nicknames – “Mr Cragg”, “Craxpino” and “Mon Chere Spagonee” – signing off one note “Love Spooch” and another “much Love Sprxxch”.
In one, he wrote: “I had an idea last night so set up working it out so am Pheeling rather fatigay think ill have a snoose dis murnen but will give you as sping at lutch dime if youadnot there sleeve a masigtch furme wid jur mlodder chib wib.”
In another, he sent a nonsense no poem that begins: “piLk Mudding/piLk Mudding/if you wan ta you/can you rime it with/Milk pudding….”
The Craxton estate isma is making the correspondence available for the first time in a centenary exhibition at this summer’s Holt Festival in Norfolk.
Martin Gayford, who will publish the missives in his forthcoming volume of Freud’s letters, said: “I’ve talked to people who met Craxton and Freud, when they were children, and they say they seemed to be talking in code.”
James Glennie, visual arts curator for the Holt Festival, said: “Most of Craxton’s letters do not survive. But, in a highly disorganised life, held on to many of those he received.
“They served as proof of a powerful friendship that Freud… finally chose to deny.”