“My work is purely autobiographical,” Lucian Freud once said. The British painter, known as one of the foremost 20th-century portraitists, was referring to his work as a whole. But if you think about it, it’s a wonder that an exhibition of Freud’s self-portraits hasn’t been presented before. He’s one of the few 20th-century artists who consistently turned his brush to his own image throughout a long career. “Lucian Freud: The Self-Portraits” gathers nearly 50 autobiographical works to trace the arc of the painter’s life and work. —J.V.

The exhibition travels to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it will be on view from March 1 to May 25, 2020.