Lithograph Of Water Made Of Lines, A Green Wash, And A Light Blue Wash
Signed Print

This gorgeous work appears almost like a technical drawing of a pool, the grid of tiles recalling graph paper, or even a blueprint. Unlike in many of Hockney’s other prints of pools, here the water is completely clear and we can see the bottom of the pool while on the surface squiggly lines like many tiny water snakes create movement in the water. A white diving board stretches over the water from the left, recognisable from Hockney’s paintings of pools as well as another lithograph linked to this one, and its companion which show the same scene with slightly different effects, such as with crayon or different colours of the inky wash that gives the scene its watery effect. In this way the work is also fascinating to study for its medium. Here Hockney has left smudges of ink that seem unintentional and yet add something spontaneous to the scene. He also masterfully contrasts the transparency of the pool with thick swathes of green that represent the garden around the pool, showing his unfailing ability to push the limits of his medium to create a striking image.