Name: A Room Full Of Straw
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney's A Room Full Of Straw (signed) is estimated to be worth between £1,550 and £2,300. This etching, created in 1969, has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 4%. This work has a steady auction history, having been sold 9 times at auction since its initial sale on 14th March 2005. The hammer price in the last 12 months has ranged from £1,632 in June 2023 to £2,062 in June 2021. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 100.

Meaning & Analysis

A huge pile of straw fills the confines of a small room, waiting to be turned into gold. Stacked haphazardly into a mound, it is made of finely etched lines like scribbles that give movement to this scene; the straw appears almost like a tornado coming towards the viewer. Incongruously placed in this small room the mess of straw is at odds with the neatness of the window frame to the right of the image which shows a glimpse of a tree in a calm landscape. Unlike other prints in the Brothers Grimm series, this interior – a scene from ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ – has been carefully picked out. The floorboards are composed of eye-catching patterns that represent the whorls and knots in the wood and the artist has chosen to include cornicing around the ceiling. This elegant interior is a stark contrast to a closely related print in the series, Straw on the Left, Gold on the Right, where the mounds of straw and gold are shown on a blank background with nothing but their shadows to anchor them in the composition. Published in 1969, David Hockney’s Illustrations For Six Fairy Tales From The Brothers Grimm are among the artist’s best known and admired work in the medium of print. Produced in an edition of 100 they were also made into a book which has sold over 150,000 copies.

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.