David Hockney b. 1937

Lithograph printed in colours, 1978-80, signed and dated in pencil,  numbered 21/36, published by Tyler Graphics Ltd., New York, with their blindstamp, on TGL hand-made paper, the full sheet in good condition, apart from cockling to edges of the sheet (unexamined out of frame)

Hockney’s love affair with California is typified in his series of works of swimming pools.  The earliest paintings of the subject date from 1964 and rewarded him with instant success.  They were executed in acrylic which Hockney was attracted to for its immediacy and rich colour consistency.  The subsequent printed works of swimming pools reflect his continued interest in the effect achieved by acrylic paints and serve to re-create the effect in a printed format.   

Whilst working on Paper Pools in 1978, a series of ninety-five paper-pulp works created in collaboration with printmaker Kenneth Tyler, Hockney began a series of seven lithographs on the same theme.  As with the Paper Pools, Hockney was interested in the variations possible, not just of the view of the pool which changed at different times of the day, under artificial illumination at night and in different weather conditions, but also how the image changed with different lithographic washes and lines.  We are delighted to present three works from this important series (lots 232, 242 & 243), each revealing varying levels of complexity.