The Start Of A Spending Spree And The Door Opening For A Blonde
The Start Of A Spending Spree And The Door Opening For A Blonde
Signed Print
David Hockney
Price data unavailable
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Etching
Edition size: 50
Year: 1961
Size: H 30cm x W 40cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
TradingFloor
Track this artwork in realtime
Watch artwork, manage valuations, track your portfolio and return against your collection
Track auction value trend
Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2013 | Bonhams New Bond Street | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
This signed etching by David Hockney is plate 3 from his celebrated A Rake’s Progress series. Produced in an edition of 50 it is titled The Start Of A Spending Spree And The Door Opening For A Blonde and shows the figure of the young artist in profile, a large bottle of what we can presume to be some kind of liquor on his head, facing a door that has become a portal to the ocean. A red sun, reminiscent of Japanese iconography, is setting over the water and palm trees can be found on either side of the door, suggesting a dream or desire for the West Coast. He would later make this dream a reality when he moved to Los Angeles in 1964, swapping what he saw as the greyness of London for bright sun and a pastel palette. While many artists were moving to New York to further their careers and to become part of a vibrant scene that had produced Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art among other movements, Hockney went against the grain. In this scene – and many others throughout the series – we perceive some of the loneliness or isolation he felt in the East Coast city which comes across as cold and empty, perhaps explaining his decision to go West.
