When Stephen Smith met artist Frank Auerbach - Newsnight

Frank Auerbach has been called "the country's greatest living artist" and a major retrospective of his work opened at Tate Britain in London on Friday. Auerbach - who is now 84 - could name painters Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon as his friends. Unlike them, his life has been austere and modest. In a rare and exclusive interview, he's been talking to our Culture Correspondent Stephen Smith. * SUBSCRIBE to get our latest videos bbc.in/1iouM30 *

[@picturepicture6990]

the straightforward documentarian nature of this clip, i think betrays some of auerbach's genius. he is not naive, nor lunatic! his paintings are a step forward for the craft and his most successful works cannot be understated in their importance to the ever mutating legacy of painting. he belongs in the pantheon of revolutionary artists and any scholar or lover of painting will tell you that.

[@maciekr2951]

Thank you for this

[@Johnconno]

'I think I'll stay here Francis...' 'You always did Frank, you always did.'

[@prolificF8]

What is this from?

[@Jonathanschofield100]

that was Bacon bout Henry More not frank

[@HectorMeana]

great painter!!!!!!!!

[@Johnconno]

Still painting that tree on Primrose Hill? A truly English painter...

[@jhall2281]

This guy is a modern day Van Gogh...

[@hd-xc2lz]

Is there a longer version of this interview?

[@jorgeserra]

I love this man's work! Maybe he's less known than Freud and Bacon because he tended to stay somewhat in the shadow, leading a more discreet lifestyle than others. As by now I think Auerbach is the best british living artist, along with Hockney

[@LJD25]

Why the obligatory mention of his painting prices? Is that the measure of his art? The painting at 1:16 is fantastic. A truly great painting. Odd how Francis Bacon got and gets so much attention, when Freud and Auerbach are - to my opinion - so much better

[@erlingandersen8008]

i agreed with you. but then again i dont think you can say this is better than this. who is the best of rembrandt ore otto dix

[@MontyCantsin5]

Bacon is on another level.

[@dannistor7294]

..."the man responsible for these extraordinary (!!!) pictures"... after this (clumsy, in my view) introduction, it feels awkward to engage my critical thinking...

[@frankauerbach]

What a waste of paint

[@MontyCantsin5]

Better than being a waste of oxygen.

[@Jonathanschofield100]

you're a waste

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

U could tell that Frankie never had a family otherwise he wouldn’t be saying such cradle to the grave nonsense

[@TakeAHike344]

He has a son

[@marcuswedman]

Just shut up idiot

[@hd-xc2lz]

Son's film piece on father Frank's work:
ua-cam.com/video/73tv5yK-3Xg/v-deo.html