Name: Digging Up Glass
Brand: David Hockney
Rating: 5 (233 reviews)

Track auction value trend

David Hockney's Digging Up Glass, a signed etching from 1969, is estimated to be worth between £1,150 and £1,700. This artwork has been sold 4 times at auction since its initial sale on 29th November 2004. The hammer price has remained consistent over the past five years, with an average annual growth rate of 1%. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 100.

Auction Date

Auction House

Location

Hammer Price

Return to Seller

Buyer Paid

July 2023

Dawsons, Berkshire

United Kingdom

August 2017

Shapiro Auctioneers

Australia

May 2007

Whyte's

Ireland

November 2004

Bonhams New Bond Street

United Kingdom

Meaning & Analysis

Digging Up Glass is an etching from 1969 by British artist, David Hockney. This etching depicts a moment when a piece of glass is being crushed under the foot of an anonymous human figure. The triangular forms representing pieces of a broken glass appear scattered at the bottom of the print, showing that half of the glass piece has already been destroyed. With a number of tiny particles floating in the air, the scene represents an active process of demolition, hinting at the implicit aspect of violence symbolised by the situation. Inspired by Brothers Grimm’s Old Rinkrank, the print provides a visual evocation of the main theme of a story about a princess who falls into the glass mountain and is imprisoned by an elderly man Rinkrank.

Hockney commented in the context of Six Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, his first handmade book of etchings published by the Petersburg Press in association with the Kasmin Gallery in 1970, “I’d always enjoyed the fairy tales very much and thought I'd like to illustrate them, make a book rather like the Cavafy book, taking some of the stories; I'd read them all, about three hundred and fifty.” Similarly to the Cavafy prints, in which the artist experiments with the poem’s subject matter rather than faithfully represents it, the Grimm etchings do not illustrate specific events, but evoke a particular world, atmosphere or trope defining the narrative.

British-born artist David Hockney is a kaleidoscopic force in the art world. Born in 1937, Hockney's vibrant palette and innovative techniques have left an indelible mark on contemporary art. A pioneer of the British Pop Art movement in the 1960s, he seamlessly transitioned through various styles, from photo collages to vivid landscapes. Renowned for his exploration of light and space, Hockney's versatility extends to painting, printmaking, photography, and stage design. A captivating storyteller, his works often capture the essence of modern life with a playful yet profound touch. With a career spanning decades, Hockney remains an enduring visionary in the ever-evolving art world.