David Hockney: his greatest works in pictures

A Selection of Artistic Masterpieces

David Hockney, one of the most influential artists of his generation, has produced a diverse and expansive body of work. This gallery showcases his journey from the taut, sun-kissed portraits of Los Angeles to the psychedelic Yorkshire landscapes and the monumental iPad masterpiece created in Normandy.

Iconic Pool Paintings

Among his most famous works is "A Bigger Splash" (1967), capturing the ever-moving surface of a swimming pool. Hockney was fascinated by California's lifestyle and between 1964 and 1971 painted as many pools as he could, each time approaching the challenge of depicting water differently.

"Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" (1972) is considered his greatest painting, selling for $90.3 million in 2018. It shows a young man in a pink jacket by a pool watching a swimmer, and captures the end of Hockney's relationship with his then-boyfriend Peter Schlesinger.

Playing with Perspective

In 1975, Hockney created "Kerby (After Hogarth) Useful Knowledge", a milestone where he first experimented with 'reverse perspective', challenging the rigid, fixed-point perspective traditional in Western art.

Yorkshire Landscapes

After moving back to Yorkshire, Hockney created large-scale works like "Bigger Trees near Warter" (2007), over 12 meters wide. He used computer technology to see the painting emerge because studio space prevented him from using ladders.

"Winter Timber" (2009) is filled with Fauvist hues, and Hockney noted: "Winter is all about line. Trees are never more alive than in winter. You can virtually see the life force."

Digital Innovations

The series "The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire" (2011) consists of iPad drawings capturing the transition from winter to spring, highlighting Hockney's love for technological innovation.

Finally, "A Year in Normandie" (2020-2021) is a 70-meter-long work inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, composed of 100 images completed outdoors on his iPad. Visitors can watch the seasons unfold as they walk through the gallery.