Name: Nicholas Wilder
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s Nicholas Wilder, a signed lithograph from 1976, is estimated to be worth between £2,850 and £4,250. This screenprint has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 3%. This work has an auction history of 11 total sales since its entry to the market in June 2000. The hammer price over the past five years has ranged from £2,642 in November 2023 to £7,200 in July 2020. The average return to the seller over this period was £3,960. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 95.

Meaning & Analysis

Printed as an edition of 95 at the famous Gemini print workshop in LA, where Hockney collaborated closely with Kenneth Tyler, this work was published in 1975 as part of the Friends portfolio of lithographs. Along with the curator Henry Geldzahler, the model Joe MacDonald and the writer Christopher Isherwood, Nicholas Wilder is a notable figure among this collection. Pictured sitting cross legged in an armchair with one arm slung across the back of it Wilder gives an immediate impression of confidence. Despite the ease of his pose his eyes are averted as if avoiding those of the viewer, or the artist. Staring off into the middle distance he appears preoccupied or distracted. Beside him is a strangely ordered arrangement of pencils on a table, an unusual prop for this series which mostly comprises vases of flowers or potted plants as counterpoints to the sitter. The props enhance the artifice of the setting which was arranged at the print studio, rather than in the sitter or artist’s home, and by turns the very nature of a portrait as a way to capture a moment of stillness from life.

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.