An Image Of Celia (State I)
An Image Of Celia (State I)
Signed Print
David Hockney
£130,000-£190,000Value Indicator
$270,000-$400,000 Value Indicator
$240,000-$350,000 Value Indicator
¥1,270,000-¥1,850,000 Value Indicator
€150,000-€220,000 Value Indicator
$1,390,000-$2,030,000 Value Indicator
¥25,880,000-¥37,820,000 Value Indicator
$180,000-$260,000 Value Indicator
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126 x 99cm, Edition of 10, Lithograph
Medium: Lithograph
Edition size: 10
Year: 1986
Size: H 126cm x W 99cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
Last Auction: April 2025
Value Trend:
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Meaning & Analysis
Depicting the famous textile and fashion designer Celia Birtwell in a recognizably Cubist vein, An Image Of Celia (State I) (1986) is a signed lithograph print by David Hockney, attesting to the artist’s lifelong dialogue with the work of Pablo Picasso. The work presents Celia Birtwell who became the icon of Hockney’s portraits in the 1980s and features in over thirty of his prints. As part of the printmaking process, Hockney used sixteen Mylar sheets for drawing in colours. The sheets were subsequently turned into plates, on which the artist depicted Celia Birtwell in two positions on an upholstered chair.
The fine and realistic detail characterising Hockney’s early portraits is replaced here by simplistic, abstract forms: oval eyes and outsized mouth extend beyond the facial contours of the woman on the left side, invoking the aesthetics of the 1980s Vogue covers. The playful composition with its two intertwined figures at the centre of the print mediates a sense of movement, urging the viewer to imagine how the sitter changes her position from erect to reclining.
What appears to be the element of the central figure’s attire simultaneously represents a part of another figure’s body. As such, the two female figures at the centre of the print blend with one another, reflecting Hockney’s penchant for experimenting with the optical perspective and the continued search for more dynamic ways of seeing.
British-born artist David Hockney is a kaleidoscopic force in the art world. Born in 1937, Hockney's vibrant palette and innovative techniques have left an indelible mark on contemporary art. A pioneer of the British Pop Art movement in the 1960s, he seamlessly transitioned through various styles, from photo collages to vivid landscapes. Renowned for his exploration of light and space, Hockney's versatility extends to painting, printmaking, photography, and stage design. A captivating storyteller, his works often capture the essence of modern life with a playful yet profound touch. With a career spanning decades, Hockney remains an enduring visionary in the ever-evolving art world.
