Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1971) by David Hockney

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) - Hockney, David - 1971

Artwork Information

TitlePortrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)
ArtistDavid Hockney
Date1971
MediumAcrylic on Canvas
Dimensions84 x 120 in. (214 x 304.8 cm)
Current LocationCollection David Geffen

About Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)

David Hockney’s Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) is a large acrylic-on-canvas pop art painting completed in May 1972. The painting measures 7 ft x 10 ft and features two figures – one swimming underwater and one clothed male figure looking down at the swimmer. It has become one of the most iconic images in the artist’s oeuvre and marks a need for closure on Hockney’s several years of working in a naturalistic style, which he has come to consider too reliant on a photo-realism.

The painting combines two of Hockney’s signature motifs- the male figure and swimming pool. It is said that the subject derives from two photographs: One was this swimmer in Hollywood swimming pool, captured by Hockney himself, while another was taken during his trip to St Tropez where Peter Schlesinger stood on a diving board gazing into Hockney’s lover Jonathon Winters who swam below them.^1

The movement of water is symbolized by curved white lines that surround and move towards the diving figure in contrast to calm, still waters elsewhere- demonstrating its birth as part allegory over younger lovers seeking freedom away from societal expectations.

Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) has garnered critical acclaim over the years; it sold for $90.3 million at Christie’s auction in New York City in 2018^2 making it one of David Hockney’s most expensive artworks ever sold publicly.

References:

1. Dodie Kazanjian “David Hockey Has Plenty Of Ideas”, Vogue, November 14th, 2018

2. Heather Russell “David Hunting set record selling ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)'”. CNBC[online], November16th ,2018

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