In Despair
1966
A sensitive etching and aquatint from David Hockney's landmark series Illustrations for Fourteen Poems by C.P. Cavafy. Created in 1966 during a pivotal period in Hockney's career, this work depicts two male figures in bed, rendered with the artist's characteristic delicate line work and emotional intimacy. Part of Hockney's groundbreaking exploration of same-sex desire and relationships, this print exemplifies his ability to capture vulnerability and human connection with remarkable empathy and nuance.
- Medium
- Etching and Aquatint
- Dimensions
Collectors of David Hockney
Artists in conversation
Wayne Thiebaud
American · b. 1920
Thiebaud shared Hockney's vibrant use of color and bold outlines, and both artists worked within a pop influenced realism that celebrated everyday subjects with a joyful, accessible visual language.
Alex Katz
American · b. 1927
Katz mirrors Hockney's flat, graphic treatment of figures and portraits alongside a cool, contemporary sensibility that blends fine art tradition with modern visual culture.
Patrick Caulfield
British · b. 1936
A fellow British Pop Art contemporary, Caulfield used bold outlines, flat color, and architectural interiors in ways that closely parallel Hockney's own graphic and decorative compositional approach.
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