How to Recognize Work by David Hockney

David Hockney was one of the founders of the Pop Art movement in Britain in the 1950s. Although he has always denied being a Pop artist, he was labeled as such because his early work made much use of magazine-style images and was concerned with consumerism. In the 1960s, Hockney moved to California where the swimming pool became one of his favorite themes. Openly gay, Hockney often made reference to his homosexuality in his work.

Instructions

Recognize Work by David Hockney

1. Look for homosexual themes in work by David Hockney. Hockney wasn't painting pornography; he was portraying gay male couples in domestic situations. One example is his painting "Domestic Scene," an image of two men showering.

2. Notice how often Hockney painted himself and his friends, lovers and family. Two examples are "Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy" and "Self-Portrait with Charlie."

3. Recognize images of Pablo Picasso. Hockney greatly admired Picasso. "Artist and Model" is a work painted right after Picasso's death. Hockney portrays himself as a nude model posing for the master.

4. Check out his portrayal of the Los Angeles lifestyle. Southern California themes are easy to recognize in Hockney's work including its architecture, manicured lawns and sunny skies. "Beverly Hills Housewife" is an example of the importance the Los Angeles lifestyle held for him.

5. Count the swimming pools. California swimming pools are another of Hockney's favorite themes. "A Bigger Splash" and "Peter getting out of Nick's pool" suggest the laid-back, Southern California atmosphere that so enamored Hockney.

6. Study his set and costume designs. Between 1975 and 1993 Hockney designed sets and costumes for many operas including Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress" and Mozart's "The Magic Flute."

7. Look at his photo collages. Hockney used a Polaroid camera to snap thousands of pictures and then assembled them in collages. "Pearblossom Highway" is one of his most famous collages.

8. Check out his more recent realistic and conventional paintings inspired by artists Edward Hopper and Giorgio Morandi.

9. Read "Hockney's Pictures: The Definitive Retrospective" by Gregory Evans at Amazon (see Resources below). This book examines almost all of Hockney's long and diverse career. It includes many images of Hockney's work along with samples of his observation, wit, philosophy and humor.

10. Review the works of modern artists Jacob Kramer and Alan Davie. Their work was an early influence on Hockney and propelled him toward the avant-garde and op style of painting.

Tips & Warnings

• In order to make sense of Hockney's long and diverse career, it would be helpful to check out a David Hockney time line at [e-mail] (see Resources below).

Resources

• [e-mail] for timeline