'In despair'
Print
1966 (printed), 1967 (published)
1966 (printed), 1967 (published)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
David Hockney was less influenced in his image making by mass media, advertising and the consumer society than by his private life (his imagery often focuses on friends and familiar places), traditional literature and gay culture. The Alexandria-born Greek Cavafy, whom he discovered in 1960, was one of his favourite poets. In 1966 Hockney travelled to Beirut in search of the kind of atmosphere he imagined Alexandria would have had at the time when Cavafy was writing there. However, the images which he ultimately made to illustrate a selection of Cavafy's poems are mostly of young male couples which could have been made in many places apart from Egypt in the early 20th century. It is their simplicity and frankness which reflect the quality of Cavafy's writing which appealed to Hockney.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | 'In despair' |
Materials and techniques | etching and aquatint on paper |
Brief description | David Hockney: 'In despair'. Etching and aquatint. 1966 |
Physical description | Two young men stretched out on a bed, covered from the waists down, hands folded behind their heads; . the bed disappears off to left of picture space. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Limited edition |
Copy number | 37/75 |
Marks and inscriptions | David Hockney '66 37/75
ea 372 (signed, dated and numbered in pencil. Stamped on the back with the publisher's mark and number.) |
Production | One of a suite of 12 plates to: Fourteen Poems by C.P. Cavafy. Chosen and Illustrated with twelve etchings by David Hockney. Translated by Nikos Stangos and Stephen Spender. Published by Editions Alecto Limited, London 1967. This illustration accompanies the poem of the same title. |
Subjects depicted | |
Place depicted | |
Literary reference | Fourteen Poems by C.P.Cavafy. Chosen and illustrated with 12 etchings by David Hockney. Translated by Stephen Spender and Nikos Stangos.Published by Editions Alecto Ltd., 1967 |
Summary | David Hockney was less influenced in his image making by mass media, advertising and the consumer society than by his private life (his imagery often focuses on friends and familiar places), traditional literature and gay culture. The Alexandria-born Greek Cavafy, whom he discovered in 1960, was one of his favourite poets. In 1966 Hockney travelled to Beirut in search of the kind of atmosphere he imagined Alexandria would have had at the time when Cavafy was writing there. However, the images which he ultimately made to illustrate a selection of Cavafy's poems are mostly of young male couples which could have been made in many places apart from Egypt in the early 20th century. It is their simplicity and frankness which reflect the quality of Cavafy's writing which appealed to Hockney. |
Associated objects | |
Bibliographic reference | Andrew Brighton: David Hockney Prints 1954-1977[Catalogue Raisonne]. Midland Group Gallery, Nottingham/ Scottish Arts Council. 1979. no.57 |
Collection | |
Accession number | CIRC.524-1968 |
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Record created | August 1, 2008 |
Record URL |
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