Name: On It May Stay His Eye
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney’s On It May Stay His Eye (signed) is estimated to be worth between £2,500 and £3,750. This etching print, created in 1977, has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 14%. This work has an auction history of 13 total sales since its entry to the market in June 2006. In the last 12 months, the artwork has sold twice, with an average selling price of £2,385. Over the past five years, the hammer price has ranged from £1,846 in October 2024 to £3,726 in September 2022. The average annual growth rate of this work is 14%. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 200.

Meaning & Analysis

On It May Stay His Eye is an etching with aquatint by David Hockney, created between 1976 and 1977. This piece is part of The Blue Guitar series, inspired by Wallace Stevens' poem The Man with the Blue Guitar. The work presents a fragmented scene featuring a guitar, vase, and rug. As one of twenty etchings in the series, it exemplifies Hockney's exploration of visual perception and artistic interpretation during this period.

read more about The Blue Guitar

Hockney's On It May Stay His Eye showcases his skilled use of etching and aquatint techniques. The composition presents a visually complex scene: a shattered glass panel, behind which a guitar is partially visible, juxtaposed with a red area rug in the foreground. The rug, rendered in a loose cross-hatch of blue and red, adds texture and depth to the image. The work's use of vibrant colours and fragmented imagery reflects Hockney's engagement with Cubist principles, particularly those of Pablo Picasso. This approach challenges traditional perspective, encouraging viewers to reconsider their perception of space and form. The intricate details and layered composition reward prolonged examination, revealing additional elements upon each viewing.

The aquatint technique, which involves using acid to etch a copper plate covered with powdered resin, allows for subtle tonal variations that enhance the work's visual impact. This method, combined with Hockney's artistic vision, results in a print that effectively communicates his ideas about perception and representation.

On It May Stay His Eye demonstrates Hockney's engagement with art history and literature. The series title, The Blue Guitar, references Wallace Stevens' poem, which itself was inspired by Picasso. This multi-layered inspiration positions the work at the intersection of visual art and literary tradition. The print's exploration of fragmented imagery and perspective aligns with Hockney's broader investigations into the nature of vision and representation, themes that have characterised much of his work throughout his career.