Name: Henry Reading The Newspaper
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s Henry Reading The Newspaper (signed) is estimated to be worth between £2,150 and £3,250. This lithograph print, created in 1976, has shown consistent value growth and is a rare artwork with an auction history of 7 total sales since its entry to the market on 6th April 2004. In the last 12 months, there have been no sales, and over the last five years, the hammer price has ranged from £1,507 in November 2023 to £4,301 in July 2020. The average annual growth rate of this work is -8%. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 71.

Meaning & Analysis

With Henry Reading the Newspaper we see Hockney playing with the possibilities of lithography to produce a looser, sketchier style that is more aligned to his drawings than many of the other prints in this series. Where other portraits of Henry Geldzahler in the portfolio are filled with shaded areas and shadows, this one is almost a line drawing, the details kept to a bare minimum, giving the work an immediacy and dynamism that some of the more polished prints lack, feeling stilled or posed. Here too the chair recedes into the blank background, contrasting with the detailed interiors of prints such as Henry At The Tableand Christopher Isherwood And Don Bachardy where the set is almost as important as the sitter. Geldzahler was a close friend of Hockney’s and this is one of four portraits of him in this portfolio, demonstrating the bond the pair had, and the ease they felt in each other’s company. Here Geldzahler appears to be lost in the act of reading the newspaper, and the pose does not feel artificial or stiff. The artist’s gaze is held lightly as he appears to be interrupting his sitter in a quiet moment of solitude.

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.