David Hockney’s painting “The Chair” is an oil on canvas artwork completed in 1985, measuring 122 x 91 cm. Inspired by Cubist influences, the painting depicts a domestic object in an unorthodox rendering and reverse perspective. This piece belongs to Hockney’s significant body of work from the 1980s that saw him experimenting with new techniques and styles.
Aside from “The Chair,” Hockney also painted other artworks involving chairs, such as “Panama Hat On A Chair” and “Slightly Damaged Chair, Malibu.” In 1985, he issued a signed lithograph of his iconic piece entitled “A Picture of Two Chairs.” Although Hockney was known for his realism and abstract expressionism, he was also considered a pioneer in the use of acrylic paint during this time.
While Hockney used acrylic paints to depict California landscapes because they suited his portrayal of sunny settings better, he chose oil paints for the chair pieces due to their texture and vibrancy. The powerful influence of Cubism is evident in the distorted three-dimensional structure seen in “The Chair.” Additionally, reverse perspective adds an intriguing visual aspect that deviates from traditional representation.