Executed in 1974, Rue des Beaux Arts presents an interior scene- the perspective of David Hockney gazing out of a window onto the railing of a balcony. This work attests to a period of time when Hockney had moved to Paris to rediscover his skills as an artist. The present work on paper is lightly finished with colour applied to define the borders of the window and minor details of outdoor space. The few short years Hockney lived and worked in the French city was considered an escape as he explored ways to diversify his output after his successful body of work in the Victorian style, exemplified by Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy, 1970 – 1971. He was much impacted by the death of his hero Pablo Picasso in 1973 and later the death of his father in 1978. Hockney channelled his devotion to the late Picasso into his works as wonderfully demonstrated in The Artist and Model, 1973-1974. Both Rue des Beaux Arts and The Artist and Model attests to the period that Hockney was trying to negotiate the balance between tradition and modernism and focused his time in Paris on cultivating his essential artistic skills, only working in drawing and prints and almost entirely giving up painting until his return to London. 'I think it comes from very deep within us actually. When all those people in the 1970s were trying to give up drawing, I did go and see them and they said: “Oh, you don’t need to draw now.” And I did point out: “Well, why don’t you tell that to that little child there? Tell them you don’t need to draw and see what happens.” Young people draw, they start making marks, everybody does.' —David Hockney