Name: Study For Rumpelstilskin
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (231 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney's Study For Rumpelstilskin (signed) is estimated to be worth between £1,600 and £2,400. This intaglio print, created in 1961, has an auction history of eight total sales since its entry to the market in October 2006. In the last five years, the hammer price has remained consistent, with an average annual growth rate of -11%. This work is somewhat rare, with an edition size of 15.

Auction Date

Auction House

Location

Hammer Price

Return to Seller

Buyer Paid

November 2023

Sotheby's Online

United Kingdom

March 2018

Christie's London

United Kingdom

April 2017

Sotheby's Online

United Kingdom

June 2016

Bonhams New Bond Street

United Kingdom

December 2014

AAG: Arts & Antiques Group

Netherlands

June 2014

Bonhams Knightsbridge

United Kingdom

February 2012

Christie's London

United Kingdom

Meaning & Analysis

Published in 1961, this etching by David Hockney was made eight years before his celebrated series Illustrations For Six Fairy Tales From The Brothers Grimm. Depicting four scenes from the famous fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin, it is vastly different in style from the latter work, recalling instead other prints from this period including Myself and My Heroes with its inclusion of text such as ‘gold’, ‘prince’ and ‘princess’. Read from left to right the scenes do not appear in the chronological order of the story; Hockney begins with an image of the imp pointing at a pile of gold, explaining to the princess how she must give him her first born child (the prince etched on her swollen belly) if she wants to continue to be able to give the king his gold. The second scene shows the king raising his arms in glee at a pile of gold that was previously straw, the third shows Rumpelstiltskin in the act of spinning the straw into gold while humming a tune to himself, and the final section of the print shows the imp being subsumed by flames and laughing, perhaps in the moment before he famously stamps through the floor and falls to his death. Shown side by side the scenes make up a kind of predella of the kind found in medieval and Renaissance altarpieces.

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.