Name: He Tore Himself In Two
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s He Tore Himself In Two, a signed Intaglio print from 1969, is estimated to be worth between £1,500 and £2,250. This work has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 3%. This is a rare artwork, with an auction history of 7 total sales since its entry to the market in June 2000. In the last 12 months, there have been no sales. In the last five years, the hammer price has ranged from £1,613 in September 2020 to £1,800 in June 2023. The average return to the seller is £1,450. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 100.

Meaning & Analysis

He Tore Himself In Two is a signed etching by David Hockney as part of his 1969 Illustrations For Six Fairy Tales From The Brothers Grimm collection. In the Brothers Grimm story that inspired this etching, a miller lies to the king that his daughter could spin straw into gold. In the course of the narrative, the king locks the girl up in a tower room filled with straw and a spinning wheel, demanding that she spins the straw into gold by the morning or he will cut off her head. Rather than faithfully representing this turn of events, Hockney focuses on the violent undertone of the story related to the king’s greed and ruthlessness.

The artist said in the context of the Brother Grimm’s stories: “they’re fascinating, the little stories, told in a very very simple, direct, straightforward language and style; it was this simplicity that attracted me. They cover quite a strange range of experience, from the magical to the moral.” It is, indeed, the moral dimension of the story that informs Hockney’s use of the characters and tropes in He Tore Himself In Two. Rather than seeing the princess, we are presented with the figure of the king involved in spinning himself. Represented in an abstract vein, the activity of spinning straw goes hand in hand with the diminishing of the human figure in the print. When spinning reaches its peak in the right picture at the bottom, it does not bring about gold. Instead, the king appears to have perished, becoming the victim of his own greed.

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.