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David Hockney A Chiaroscuro For Sale
David Hockney
A Chiaroscuro, 1976-77
Etching
20.5 x 18
About this work
David Hockney’s The Blue Guitar etchings are visually inspired by Picasso and based on Wallace Stevens’ 1936 poem, The Man with the Blue Guitar, which in turn was inspired by Picasso’s 1903 painting, The Old Guitarist. Hockney’s series interprets the poem's themes, aiming to capture the essence of transformations within art and the relationship between reality and imagination. Rather than providing literal illustrations of Stevens’ poem, Hockney’s etchings present various styles of representation juxtaposed, reflected, and dissolved within the same frame.Hockney’s admiration for Picasso began in 1960 after attending a retrospective at the Tate, which he visited eight times. This deep appreciation influenced his artistic journey. In 1973, following Picasso’s death, Hockney was invited to contribute to a series of prints inspired by Picasso. He traveled to Paris to work with Aldo Crommelynck, Picasso’s master printer, where he learned the sugar lift aquatint technique favored by Picasso. This technique became instrumental in creating the colored etchings for The Blue Guitar series.In addition to adopting Picasso’s printmaking techniques, Hockney also experimented with Cubist perspectives. This exploration of Cubism would later inform much of his subsequent work, including the Moving Focus series and his photo collages. Hockney's ability to blend elements from various artistic movements and masters showcases his fluency in the languages of style and printmaking, resulting in innovative and personal works. By engaging with these diverse influences and techniques, Hockney not only pays homage to his artistic predecessors but also reinvents their approaches to create something entirely new. The Blue Guitar series stands as a testament to his ability to transform inspiration into a unique visual language that reflects both his respect for the past and his drive for innovation.
Price on Application
Auction History
In a Chiaroscuro, Plate 9 from The Blue Guitar · David Hockney · Freeman’s / Hindman · 2023-03 · $7,560
In a Chiaroscuro, plate 9 from The Blue Guitar (S.A.C 207, M.C.A.T. 186) · David Hockney · Phillips · 2022-09 · $5,613
In a Chiaroscuro, from: The Blue Guitar · David Hockney · Christie's · 2023-09 · $4,793
In a chiaroscuro, from The Blue Guitar · David Hockney · Christie's · 2007-11 · $4,124
in a chiaroscuro, 9 (from the blue guitar) · David Hockney · Sotheby's · 2007-09 · $4,015
More from this series
David Hockney
A Picture of Ourselves
1976-77
David Hockney
A Tune
1976-77
David Hockney
Discord Merely Magnifies
1976-77
David Hockney
Etching is the Subject
1976-77
David Hockney
Figure with Still Life
1976-77
David Hockney
Franco-American Mail
1976-77
David Hockney
I Say They Are
1976-77
David Hockney
It Picks It's Way
1976-77
David Hockney
Made in April
1976-77
David Hockney
On It May Stay His Eye
1976-77
David Hockney
Parade
1976-77
David Hockney
Serenade
1976-77
David Hockney
The Blue Guitar, Frontispiece
1976-77
David Hockney
The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar
1976-77
David Hockney
The Old Guitarist
1976-77
David Hockney
The Poet
1976-77
David Hockney
Tick It Tock It Turn It True
1976-77
David Hockney
What is this Picasso?
1976-77
More series by David Hockney
About the The Blue Guitar Series
David Hockney The Blue Guitar Prints For Sale
David Hockney's The Blue Guitar stands as one of the most significant print portfolios of the late twentieth century, representing a pivotal moment when the artist synthesized his mastery of etching techniques with profound literary and philosophical inquiry. Inspired by Wallace Stevens' 1937 poem "The Man with the Blue Guitar"—itself a meditation on Picasso—this series of twenty etchings explores the fundamental relationship between artistic representation and reality. Created during Hockney's mature period, works including The Poet, Tick It Tock It Turn It True, The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar, and On It May Stay His Eye demonstrate the artist's unparalleled ability to translate complex poetic concepts into visual form while maintaining his characteristic wit and technical virtuosity.
The series showcases Hockney's experimental approach to printmaking, employing a sophisticated range of etching methods including aquatint, hard-ground, soft-ground, and sugar-lift techniques. This technical diversity creates remarkable tonal variations and textural complexity across the portfolio. Works such as A Picture of Ourselves, Discord Merely Magnifies, Serenade, and the self-referential Etching is the Subject reveal Hockney's playful deconstruction of artistic conventions while simultaneously honoring the etching medium's rich history. The vibrant blue tonalities that dominate the series became one of Hockney's most recognizable chromatic signatures, influencing his subsequent paintings and stage designs throughout the 1980s.
In the contemporary market, The Blue Guitar occupies an essential position within Hockney's graphic oeuvre, alongside his earlier A Rake's Progress and Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm. The series represents a crucial bridge between Hockney's 1960s Pop sensibility and his later explorations of spatial representation and modernist legacy. Individual prints and complete portfolios are highly sought after by institutional collections and discerning private collectors who recognize the work's art-historical importance and the artist's continued market strength as one of the most valuable living artists. Complete series with original wrappers and in excellent condition command premium valuations.
Available through Guy Hepner gallery.
About David Hockney
David Hockney prints for sale at Guy Hepner include works from his most collected series: the Swimming Pool lithographs, Blue Guitar, Paper Pools, Moving Focus, Celia, and the Yosemite Suite. David Hockney signed prints for sale and David Hockney original art for sale through our New York gallery are sourced from authenticated secondary market collections with full provenance documentation.
David Hockney (9 July 1937 – 11 June 2026) was the most celebrated British artist of his generation and one of the most actively traded names on the international secondary market. His luminous paintings, prints, and drawings — spanning swimming pools, landscapes, portraits, and iPad works — defined visual culture for over six decades and continue to command record prices at auction.
David Hockney Art For Sale
David Hockney art for sale encompasses a remarkably diverse body of work, from early etchings and lithographs to large-scale paintings and his celebrated digital iPad drawings. Hockney's position as the most valuable British artist was confirmed in November 2018 when Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972) sold for US$90.3 million at Christie's New York — setting a world auction record for a living artist at the time.
At Guy Hepner, David Hockney paintings for sale and prints are sourced directly from galleries, estates, and private collections with full provenance documentation.
David Hockney Prints For Sale
David Hockney prints for sale represent the most accessible and liquid category of his market. His lithographs, etchings, and screenprints — produced across six decades — are sought by collectors at every level. Signed editions are particularly valued for their documentary connection to Hockney's creative process.
Key series available at Guy Hepner:
- Swimming Pool series — the definitive Hockney motif; pool paintings and prints in every medium remain among his most sought works
- Weather Series — a landmark suite of lithographs exploring atmospheric and meteorological themes with Hockney's signature graphic clarity
- Hollywood Hills — sun-drenched landscapes celebrating California's light, space, and architecture
- Moving Focus — a major series of lithographs and prints exploring perspective, travel, and the act of looking
- Pools lithographs — intimate, technically virtuosic prints that distil the essence of his Swimming Pool paintings
- iPad drawings — Hockney's pioneering digital works, printed as archival pigment prints, representing a bold late chapter in his practice
David Hockney: Most Collectible Series
Hockney is the most actively traded British artist on the secondary market, with consistent demand across painting, print, drawing, and photography. For collectors seeking to buy David Hockney, the prints market offers the greatest volume and liquidity.
Collectors who buy David Hockney should consider:
- Signed vs unsigned editions — signed impressions command a substantial premium and are preferred by institutions
- Early vs late editions — earlier impressions from small editions tend to appreciate faster
- Subject matter — pool paintings, portraits, and California landscapes are his canonical themes and attract the broadest collector base
- Condition — works on paper are sensitive to light; always request condition reports and storage history
Hockney's enduring legacy, global institutional profile, and the exceptional breadth of his output make David Hockney prints for sale a compelling proposition at all market levels.
Buying David Hockney
Guy Hepner has extensive experience placing David Hockney art for sale with private collectors and institutional buyers. Our inventory includes rare signed prints, lithographs from major series, and occasional works on paper and canvas sourced through trusted networks.
When you buy David Hockney through Guy Hepner, every work comes with full provenance documentation, condition reporting, and certificate of authenticity. We can also assist with private sales, valuations, and estate acquisitions.
Contact us to discuss available David Hockney paintings for sale, current print inventory, and collector advisory services.