Marguerites. by David Hockney, b.1937

David Hockney, b.1937
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Marguerites.

Original etching, with softground and aquatint, printed in colours. 1973. Signed in pencil. Numbered (57) in pencil from the edition of 100 (plus 23 proofs). Printed at the Atelier Crommelynck, Paris 1973. Published by Petersburg Press, 1973.
Ref: Scottish Arts Council - Hockney Prints no 157

Excellent impression with very fresh colours- the version with the soft pink in the petals. On pale cream wove Arches paper. Excellent condition. Full margins. Sheet: 16 3/8 x 12 1/2ins. Plate: 9 1/4 x 6 7/8ins (235x175mm)

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Hockney has always enjoyed flower-piece compositions, and his pleasure in such works underlines the 'classical' quality in his drawing. It is this understanding of classic drawing, and his extreme gifts as a draughtsman, that give the strength and solidity to his art. However much he may experiment there is always the sense that, at its root, his concepts are built on the most traditional gifts of drawing and composition.

'Marguerites' is one of his best known flower compositions executed in colour etching. Drawn using four colours and two plates Hockney made the composition working at the studio of Crommelynck in Paris. He had begun to think about making colour prints in etching and Aldo Crommelynk undertook to show him how Picasso had worked using two worked plates and two colours inked on each plate. He drew 'Marguerites' and 'Godetia' using this method in 1973, and then three years later he developed it further for the series 'The Blue Guitar' based on Wallace Steven's poem inspired by Picasso's 1903 Blue Period composition 'The Old Guitarist'.

In the relationship between the shapes and colours of the flowers and the blurring and distortions of form introduced by the stems seen through the water in the glass this is one of Hockney's most satisfying flower compositions.