Name: The Boy Hidden In A Fish
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s The Boy Hidden In A Fish (signed) is estimated to be worth between £1,600 and £2,400. This intaglio print, created in 1969, has shown consistent demand, with 8 total sales since its entry to the market in October 2008. Over the past 12 months, the average selling price was £2,208, across 2 sales. The hammer price over the past five years has varied from £750 in June 2025 to £7,500 in September 2021. The average annual growth rate of this work is currently -13%. This work is part of a limited edition of 100.

Meaning & Analysis

A large fish swims into view. Its skin has been rendered transparent in order to reveal the figure of a boy curled up inside it. The water around the fish is a thick swathe of black ink that contrasts with the cross hatched backgrounds of many of the other prints in this series. The boy is shown looking somewhat desperate as he sucks his thumb, his eyes vacant. Below the fish and the boy a marine landscape stretches out, made of small boulders and narrow sea stacks as well as seaweed, recalling the deserts of the west and some of Hockney's more abstract landscapes. The boy is hiding from a haughty princess in order to win her affection, and the fish is his second attempt; for the first he is hidden in an egg by a raven. Eventually he is turned into the sea hare of this story’s title, and is able to claim the princess who does not see him hiding in her hair. 'The Little Sea Hare' is one of six fairy tales illustrated by David Hockney for his 1969 series dedicated to the Brothers Grimm stories. The prints were originally published as an edition of 100 but also became a book which has been reprinted by Oxford University Press and has sold over 150,000 copies, making this one of Hockney’s best loved series.

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.