The Tall Tree David Hockney

DAVID HOCKNEY, THE TALL TREE, HOME MADE PRINTS, SIGNED DIGITAL PRINT, EDITION OF 60, 1986

The black outline of a tree trunk rises up against a grey sky. Heart shaped leaves hang from invisible branches, and its roots spread across a mound that at first glance looks like the top of a thumbprint. Printed across two sheets the work is striking for its verticality and stands out among the other pieces in the series known as Home Made Prints. While it has echoes of Japanese woodblock printing the work was produced on an office photocopying machine, its various elements pierced together by the artist through a process of layering which allowed him to recreate elements of lithography and screenprinting from the comfort of his own home and without the assistance of a workshop. This newfound technique left much room for experimentation and here we see Hockney combining various elements of scale, texture and colour to create a composite image that is constantly surprising in its play of surface and depth. While Hockney loved depicting natural elements in his work, he preferred to depict vases of flowers and potted plants in this series which is characterised by a number of still lifes and interiors. Here instead the tree is shown alone, and with its dark palette it offers a sense of foreboding that is in stark contrast to the vibrant tones of the other works in Home Made Prints. 

Read more about Hockney’s Home Made Prints series.

ABOUT DAVID HOCKNEY

Voted ‘Britain’s Most Influential Artist of All Time’ in a 2011 poll, David Hockney remains one of Britain’s most popular and well-respected artists. Having worked as a painter, draughtsman, printmaker, photographer, videographer and stage designer, Hockney’s versatility has aided his popularity, making his paintings and limited edition prints some of the most sought-after in the art market. Learn more about David Hockney.