Art Book - David Hockney Drawings 1954-1994 - First Edition Museum Exhibition Catalog

Details

Description

Title: David Hockney: A Drawing Retrospective - 1996 First Edition Exhibition Catalog - Los Angeles County Museum of Art

An … Read more Title: David Hockney: A Drawing Retrospective - 1996 First Edition Exhibition Catalog - Los Angeles County Museum of Art

An exceptional opportunity to acquire this distinguished 1996 first edition exhibition catalog documenting one of the most comprehensive surveys of David Hockney's drawings ever assembled. Published by Chronicle Books in association with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, this volume represents a seminal moment in documenting the work of Britain's most celebrated living artist.

David Hockney stands as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with his 1972 painting "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" achieving a record-breaking $90 million at auction in 2018—the highest price ever paid for a work by a living artist at that time. This retrospective catalog captures the essence of what makes Hockney's draftsmanship so extraordinary, presenting 165 drawings spanning four decades of his career, from 1954 to 1994.

The volume showcases Hockney's evolution as a draftsman across multiple techniques and subjects: his vibrant California landscapes with their iconic swimming pools and palm trees, penetrating portraits of friends and lovers, experimental work with computer drawings and fax-machine images, and evocative scenes from his travels to Egypt, Morocco, Paris, and Hollywood. Notably, this publication includes many drawings that had never been reproduced before, several from the artist's personal collection, offering collectors unprecedented access to rarely seen works.

Authoritative essays by curators Ulrich Luckhardt of the Hamburger Kunsthalle and British art historian Paul Melia examine Hockney's skills as a draftsman, presenting a chronological view of his evolving style and technique. The scholarship places the drawings within the context of Hockney's broader oeuvre, illuminating how drawing forms the very foundation of his approach to every medium—from painting to stage design to photography.

As a key figure in the 1960s Pop Art movement, Hockney brought a distinctive British sensibility to the genre, characterized by bold color, frank realism, and an openly autobiographical approach. His work bridges traditional and contemporary art practices, drawing inspiration from sources as varied as Picasso's Cubism and the visual language of modern advertising. This catalog serves as both a scholarly reference and a visually stunning compendium, essential for collectors of modern and contemporary art.

The softcover format was issued alongside the hardcover edition, making this an authentic first edition from the exhibition's original run. Its connection to the prestigious Los Angeles County Museum of Art exhibition lends important institutional provenance.

About the Authors:
Ulrich Luckhardt is a distinguished curator at the Hamburger Kunsthalle in Hamburg, Germany, one of Europe's premier art museums. His expertise in modern and contemporary art, particularly in the analysis of drawing as a fundamental artistic practice, made him an ideal co-curator for this groundbreaking retrospective. Luckhardt's scholarship has contributed significantly to the understanding of twentieth-century European and British art.

Paul Melia is a respected British art historian specializing in modern and contemporary British art. His extensive research into David Hockney's work has positioned him as one of the leading authorities on the artist. Melia has published numerous scholarly works examining Hockney's contributions to painting, drawing, and photography, and his critical analysis has been instrumental in establishing the intellectual framework for understanding Hockney's place in art history.

About David Hockney:
David Hockney (b. 1937, Bradford, Yorkshire, England) is widely regarded as the most influential British artist of his generation and one of the most important painters of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. After studying at Bradford School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London—where he won the gold medal in the graduate competition—Hockney emerged as a leading figure in the British Pop Art movement of the 1960s. His move to Los Angeles in 1964 proved transformative, as California's intense light, modernist architecture, and relaxed lifestyle profoundly influenced his aesthetic vision. The iconic swimming pool paintings for which he is perhaps best known capture a distinctly Californian sensibility while exploring deeper themes of isolation, desire, and the nature of representation itself. Throughout his seven-decade career, Hockney has worked across virtually every medium—painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, stage design, and most recently, digital art created on iPads. His 2012 appointment to the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth II recognized his extraordinary contributions to British culture and the arts.

Style Notes: Contemporary, Modern, Pop Art, Mid-Century Modern, British Modern, California Modern

Decor Style: Contemporary, Pop Art, Modern
Year Made: 1996
Country of Origin: United Kingdom (Printed in Great Britain)
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Dimensions: [PLEASE MEASURE: typically approximately 11.5" H x 9" W]
Pages: 264
Illustrations: 165 (145 in color)
ISBN: 0-8118-1314-2

Condition: Please see photos for specific condition details including any wear to binding, pages, or covers. See less