“I draw flowers every day and send them to my friends so they get fresh blooms every morning.”
—David Hockney
David Hockney, Pretty Tulips, February 1970 from Twenty Photographic Pictures by David Hockney, 1976. Image: Richard Schmidt, Artwork: © 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.
Provenance
Collection of Lilly Stern (Molton Gallery), London
Gifted to the present owner, circa 1972Literature
Scottish Arts Council 115
Artist Biography
David Hockney
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.
Property of a Private UK Collector
20
Pretty Tulips (S.A.C. 115)
1969
Lithograph in colours, on Crisbrook handmade paper, the full sheet.
S. 72.5 x 50.5 cm (28 1/2 x 19 7/8 in.)
Signed, titled, dated '70' and numbered 6/200 in pencil (there were also 30 proofs), published by Petersburg Press, London and New York, 1970, unframed.
Estimate
£12,000 - 18,000 ♠
Sold for £31,750
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David Hockney
London Auction 21 September 2023
