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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Greg Evans

David Hockney’s most iconic paintings: From California pools to Yorkshire fields

  • David Hockney, celebrated for his iconic depictions of Los Angeles swimming pools and the landscapes of his native Yorkshire, has died peacefully at his home, aged 88 .
  • Hockney's career underwent a significant transformation after his 1964 move to California, where the sexually liberated atmosphere profoundly influenced his vibrant style and subject matter, leading to recent major retrospectives and immersive exhibitions globally.
  • His iconic 1966 painting, The Splash, emblematic of his Californian period and depicting a swimming pool scene, sold for £23.1 million in 2020, while his 1972 work, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) , achieved a record £70 million for a living artist in 2018.
  • Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy (1970-71) captures the bohemian London scene, portraying fashion designer Ossie Clark and textile designer Celia Birtwell with muted colours and a melancholic air, subtly referencing Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini Marriage .
  • My Parents (1977) marked a shift to more sombre themes, depicting his parents in Bradford with a sense of isolation, using contrasting colours to highlight their individual characters and the artist's perspective on his home.
  • Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy (1968) in this double portrait, Hockney presented the writer and artist couple with an emotional distance and a two-tone palette. The painting is celebrated as a serious, modern portrayal of a same-sex relationship.
  • In later life, he returned to Yorkshire following the death of his mother and began painting the picturesque fields and landscape, with vivid colours and playful, almost childlike sensibility.

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