Postcard Of Richard Wagner With A Glass Of Water
Postcard Of Richard Wagner With A Glass Of Water
Signed Print
David Hockney
£2,550-£3,850Value Indicator
$5,500-$8,000 Value Indicator
$4,700-$7,000 Value Indicator
¥25,000-¥35,000 Value Indicator
€3,000-€4,500 Value Indicator
$27,000-$40,000 Value Indicator
¥500,000-¥750,000 Value Indicator
$3,450-$5,000 Value Indicator
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22 x 15cm, Edition of 100, Etching
Medium: Etching
Edition size: 100
Year: 1973
Size: H 22cm x W 15cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
Last Auction: April 2025
Value Trend:
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Meaning & Analysis
This signed screen print by British artist David Hockney, Portrait Of Richard Wagner With A Glass Of Water, was issued in an edition of 100 and is from 1973. One of Hockney’s many works to deal explicitly with music – in this case, with the German composer Richard Wagner. One of Hockney’s most-loved composers, Wagner has accompanied Hockney throughout his life; in 1987, the artist designed stages for a production of Wagner’s Tristan Und Isolde, held at the Los Angeles Music Center Opera.
Featuring a variety of genre-defying painterly backdrops, these designs evoked the bold theatrically-orientated piece A Souvenir Of A Triple Bill For Andrea Velis (1982) and the experimental Snails Space series. Later in Hockney’s career in the 2000s, Hockney devised a so-called ‘Wagner drive’, crafting a playlist of the composer’s music designed to crescendo as he reached the crest of one of Hollywood’s many hills.
A product of Hockney’s collaboration with long-standing friend and master printer, Maurice Payne, this etching distorts the profile of the German composer, which is covered by a glass of water. In the same year, conceptual artist Michael-Craig Martin devised the piece An Oak Tree, which comprises a glass of water placed on a bathroom shelf. The thematic similarities between Hockney’s bold, masterful etching and this installation artwork suggest the nature of the former as a work of playful commentary on the state of contemporary art at the time.
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.
