Name: Sidney In His Office
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s Sidney In His Office (signed) is estimated to be worth between £2,200 and £3,350. This lithograph print, created in 1976, has shown consistent value growth and has an auction history of seven total sales since its entry to the market in October 2005. The hammer price over the past five years has ranged from £1,514 in January 2023 to £3,000 in June 2023. The average annual growth rate for this work is 4%. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 60.

Meaning & Analysis

While many of the portraits in the Friends (Gemini G.E.L 1976 Portfolio) show Hockney’s friends and companions in a spare setting with just a few objects or features picked out, this work, entitled Sidney in his Office, is unusual for showing the sitter in his office. Seated in a cane chair at his desk with a large rolodex in front of him and sheets of paper strewn about the place, he appears to have been caught in the middle of a busy day. His figure is at ease however, as he turns his head to look over his right shoulder at something out of shot. Here Hockney demonstrates his mastery of lithography, using the medium to play with different effects of line and tone, adding surface and depth to the work. This series was made in collaboration with printer Kenneth Tyler of the Gemini workshop in LA and marks a departure from Hockney’s earlier etchings which were less painterly and more graphic in style. While lithography loses some of the immediacy of an etching – which allowed the artist to draw directly onto a plate as quickly as a sketch – it makes up for it with the possibility to reproduce areas of shading and diffused brushstroke-like marks which bring another layer of life to the portrait.

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.