My Parents and Myself, 1976
Oil on canvas with masking tape
Hockney was visited by his parents whilst he was living intermittently in Paris (1973-5). It was there that he made the preparatory drawings and took reference photographs for the planned painting. While selecting the works for Drawing from Life in Hockney’s Los Angeles studio, the artist rediscovered the painting, believing that after abandoning it, the work had been destroyed. The masking tape was originally used to hang a piece of paper over the central panel as Hockney re-worked the surrounding area.*
From the exhibition
David Hockney: Drawing from Life
(November 2023 - January 2024)
David Hockney (b.1937) is regarded as one of the master draughtsmen of our times. He widely champions drawing, which is at the heart of his studio activity and has underpinned his work throughout his life. From the early pen and ink and coloured pencil drawings, to his more recent experiments with watercolour and digital technology, the artist’s inventive visual language has taken many different stylistic turns.
Over the past six decades he has never stood still, or rested on a particular approach, medium or technique, remaining inquisitive, playful and thought provoking while generously sharing his ideas with his audience. His drawing reflects his admiration for both the Old Masters and ‘modern Masters’ from Rembrandt to Picasso.
Drawing from Life explores the artist’s unique vision of the world around him, which is played out in portraits of himself and his intimate circle. A room of new ‘painted drawings’ of visitors to his Normandy studio in 2021-2 offer a glimpse of Hockney’s continuing working life.
All works in the exhibition are by David Hockney..
[*National Portrait Gallery]
Taken in National Portrait Gallery
My Parents and Myself, 1976
Oil on canvas with masking tape
Hockney was visited by his parents whilst he was living intermittently in Paris (1973-5). It was there that he made the preparatory drawings and took reference photographs for the planned painting. While selecting the works for Drawing from Life in Hockney’s Los Angeles studio, the artist rediscovered the painting, believing that after abandoning it, the work had been destroyed. The masking tape was originally used to hang a piece of paper over the central panel as Hockney re-worked the surrounding area.*
From the exhibition
David Hockney: Drawing from Life
(November 2023 - January 2024)
David Hockney (b.1937) is regarded as one of the master draughtsmen of our times. He widely champions drawing, which is at the heart of his studio activity and has underpinned his work throughout his life. From the early pen and ink and coloured pencil drawings, to his more recent experiments with watercolour and digital technology, the artist’s inventive visual language has taken many different stylistic turns.
Over the past six decades he has never stood still, or rested on a particular approach, medium or technique, remaining inquisitive, playful and thought provoking while generously sharing his ideas with his audience. His drawing reflects his admiration for both the Old Masters and ‘modern Masters’ from Rembrandt to Picasso.
Drawing from Life explores the artist’s unique vision of the world around him, which is played out in portraits of himself and his intimate circle. A room of new ‘painted drawings’ of visitors to his Normandy studio in 2021-2 offer a glimpse of Hockney’s continuing working life.
All works in the exhibition are by David Hockney..
[*National Portrait Gallery]
Taken in National Portrait Gallery