“I draw flowers every day and send them to my friends so they get fresh blooms every morning.”
—David Hockney
Since the 1960s, flowers have been a central theme of David Hockney’s work. From etchings to lithographs to iPad drawings, the humble vase of flowers has been under constant review by the British artist. A keen student of this art historical tradition, Hockney was initially drawn to Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflower painting’s from the late 1880s. Hockney’s exploration of the floral still life as a formal composition further provided him a means of exploring medium, specifically diverse printmaking techniques. Showcasing his mastery of the various printing methods, Hockney’s depictions of flowers are delicate and moving works exemplar of the development of his unique style, excitement regarding new printing techniques, and his endless experimentations with colour, form, and line.
Literature
Scottish Arts Council 118 ars publicata, Group Editions, Europäische Grafik portfolio VII (Englische Künstler)
David Hockney (b. 1937) is one of the most well-known and celebrated artists of the
20th and 21st centuries. He works across many mediums, including painting, collage,
and more recently digitally, by creating print series on iPads. His works show semi-
abstract representations of domestic life, human relationships, floral, fauna, and the
changing of seasons.
Hockney has exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Royal
Academy of Arts in London, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, among many
other institutions. On the secondary market, his work has sold for more than $90
million.
Lillies, from Europäische Graphik Mappe VII (European Prints Portfolio VII) (S.A.C. 118)
1971 Lithograph in colours, on Arches wove paper, the full sheet. S. 65.7 x 50.5 cm (25 7/8 x 19 7/8 in.) Signed, dated and numbered 44/65 in pencil (there were also 18 proofs on Japan paper), published by Galerie W. Ketterer, Munich (with their blindstamp), framed.