Name: Christopher Isherwood And Don Bachardy
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s Christopher Isherwood And Don Bachardy (signed) is estimated to be worth between £6,500 and £10,000. This lithograph print, created in 1976, has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 2%. This work has an auction history of 8 total sales since its entry to the market in November 2004. Over the past 12 months, the average selling price was £7,139 across 1 sale. In the last five years, the hammer price has ranged from £4,877 in November 2018 to £9,000 in February 2022. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 96.

Meaning & Analysis

While some of the prints in the 1976 Friends series make use of the medium of lithography to achieve a softer, more painterly effect, Christopher Isherwood And Don Bachardy retains a more sketchy line, recalling Hockney’s earlier etchings. Here we find the great writer and his partner sitting in matching rattan armchairs behind a coffee table upon which lays an unusual still life consisting of a lemon squeezer and shucked cob of corn. The corn kernels recall the texture of the armchairs which in turn is echoed in the shutters behind the figures. Hockney had of course painted the couple’s portrait, in almost the exact same triangular composition, in 1968. While that work showed the sitters fully clothed, however, in this work they are wearing dressing gowns, adding an air of intimacy to this scene and to their relationship. While homosexuality was no longer illegal in most states and countries by 1976, it was still unusual to come across open celebrations of gay love in contemporary art. As with his earlier series Illustrations For Fourteen Poems By C.P. Cavafy here the homoeroticism is laid bare as if defiantly challenging conservative viewers to take issue with it.

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.