Steps Into The Water
Steps Into The Water
Signed Print
David Hockney
£9,000-£13,500
$19,000-$28,000 Value Indicator
$17,000-$25,000 Value Indicator
¥90,000-¥130,000 Value Indicator
€10,500-€16,000 Value Indicator
$90,000-$140,000 Value Indicator
¥1,790,000-¥2,680,000 Value Indicator
$12,000-$18,000 Value Indicator
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27 x 21cm, Edition of 80, Photographic print
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Meaning & Analysis
Steps Into The Water is a 1976 chromogenic print by David Hockney, part of his Twenty Photographic Pictures portfolio. The image captures steps descending into a swimming pool, and showcases the lines of waves on the water's surface which Hockney mimicked in many of his most famous works. This work exemplifies Hockney's shift towards photography in the 1970s and his ongoing exploration of water, light, and Californian aesthetics that began with his move to Los Angeles in the 1960s.
In Steps Into The Water, Hockney utilises the chromogenic printing process to render the interplay of light and water with remarkable precision. The composition centres on the geometric form of pool steps juxtaposed against the organic patterns of water ripples. Hockney's mastery of colour is evident in the print's vibrant blue tones, achieved through the chromogenic process, which allows for nuanced colour reproduction.
This work is significant within Hockney's oeuvre as it demonstrates his application of painterly sensibilities to photography. The high contrast between the crisp edges of the steps and the water's surface showcases Hockney's ability to capture ephemeral light effects through photographic means. This approach is consistent across the Twenty Photographic Pictures series, which includes other notable works such as Gregory In The Pool and Sunbather.