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Hockney produced etchings as early as the 1960s while still a student, moving away from a more naturalistic style in the process. The 39 etchings Illustrations of Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm series, created in 1969, he considered to be more complex and a step forward in his etching techniques. He had been an admirer of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales since childhood and said, "They’re fascinating, the little stories, told in a very simple, direct, straightforward language and style, it was this simplicity that attracted me. They cover quite a strange range of experience, from the magical to the moral." |
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Our gallery currently holds an original signed and numbered etching ‘The Enchantress with the Baby Rapunzel’ from the series. |
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David Hockney OM CH RA (born 1937) is a British painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer. He is one of the most notable and well-respected names in international art. Born in Bradford, Hockney attended the Bradford College of Art, and later the Royal College of Art in London. |
Influence of Los Angeles on Hockney’s work |
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He moved to Los Angeles in 1964, having been enthralled by the bright sunshine and easy-going lifestyle when he visited Southern California for the first time the previous year. Hockney is best known for his colourful windows into an idealised version of his LA lifestyle; putting his personal relationships, home environment and his homosexuality centre-stage in works such as his paintings of swimming pools, portraits of friends, and verdant landscapes. He had his first one-man show at Kasmin Limited in 1963, seven years later the Whitechapel Gallery in London organised the first major retrospective which subsequently travelled to three major European institutions. |
Worldwide Recognition |
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In 2017, six decades of art by David Hockney including painting, drawing, print, photography and video, were shown in the exhibition David Hockney at Tate Britain. The exhibition marked Hockney’s 80th year and travelled to the Centre Georges Pompidou and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hockney’s work is held in major public collections all over the world, including those of the Tate and the National Portrait Gallery in London; the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA in New York; and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. Most recently, his monumental stained-glass window to celebrate the Queen’s reign was unveiled in Westminster Abbey. |