David Hockney: A Drawing Retrospective

by Ulrich Luckhardt

Los Angeles County Museum of Art exhibition 1996 catalog. Color and black and white reproductions throughout. 264 pages including index and references.

Genres: Art

Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb collection of ink, pencil and crayon drawings by Hockney during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

I didn't find the text helpful, but the drawings were wonderful. I especially loved the crayon drawings - each picture, from thundery depths of intense colour, trailing off to almost nothing. And the wonderful scope of his approach, from brilliant draughtsmanship with his portraiture - all those delicate and spidery ink lines, and the softer, lusher look of the crayon...... to the crude slap and dash of his naive works. Then there was the enchanting cartoonish approach he took with his stage designs for The Rake's Progress. Or the cool charm of his simple interiors, and minimalist still lifes.

All delicious! This is a wonderful book. Even the very tatty second hand copy I have is full of delights.

Hockney is adamant that he wants no-one copying his pictures. I have therefore taken no photographs. If you would like to see images typical of the ones shown in this book go to his website and check out his drawings (under the tab "Works").

David Hockney's website

The difference is the pix on his website are so small they are virtually thumbnails. The ones in the book on the other hand, are big and fabulous.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no question that David Hockney is a master at drawing, painting and whatever art mediums he uses. This book is one of the dozens of catalogues of Hockney's work. It isn't necessarily one of the best examples of his work in general.