Artist: David Hockney
Title: "The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar" (from The Blue Guitar Series)
Year: 1977
Medium: Etching with Aquatint on Inveresk Mould-Made Paper
Sheet size: 21.65" x 18.9"
Plate Size: 16.75" x 13.5"
Edition Size: 200 Numbered, 35 Artists Proof (XXXV)
Edition Number: 80/200
Inscription: Signed "David Hockney"
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
David Hockney's The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar is a standout work from his 1977 portfolio The Blue Guitar, a series of 20 etchings inspired by Wallace Stevens's poem The Man with the Blue Guitar (1937). Stevens's poem, itself a reflection on Picasso's The Old Guitarist, explores themes of artistic transformation and the tension between reality and imagination—concepts that Hockney renders visually through complex layers of imagery, shifting perspectives, and witty self-referentiality.
Rather than directly illustrating the poem, Hockney interprets its philosophical underpinnings, creating "pictures within pictures" that fuse art historical references with personal iconography. In The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar, the instrument becomes a metaphor for the artist's voice and creative energy. Shapes bend and dissolve, figures merge with interior spaces, and color harmonies vibrate with life, all suggesting the resonance between perception and invention. Hockney's use of color etching is technique he learned from master printer Aldo Crommelynck, who had worked with Picasso.
Published by Petersburg Press, The Blue Guitar series is held in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Art. This impression of The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar is from the numbered edition of 200, with an additional 35 artist's proofs. It is hand-signed and numbered in pencil on the lower front margin as 80/200. The purchase includes a certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact.
About David Hockney
David Hockney, born on July 9, 1937, in Bradford, England, is one of the most influential and celebrated British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Known for his bold use of color, experimentation with form and technology, and deeply personal subject matter, Hockney has continually redefined the boundaries of contemporary art over a career spanning more than six decades.
Hockney studied at the Bradford School of Art and later at the Royal College of Art in London, where he emerged as a leading figure in the British Pop Art movement during the early 1960s. Even in his formative years, his work stood out for its wit, autobiographical elements, and graphic inventiveness. His early paintings often referenced literature, homoerotic themes, and self-identity, challenging prevailing norms with playful confidence.
In the mid-1960s, Hockney moved to Los Angeles, a city that profoundly shaped his artistic vision. It was here that he created some of his most iconic works, including the renowned "A Bigger Splash" (1967), which captured the sun-drenched, swimming pool–filled landscape of Southern California. These paintings, often featuring clean lines, bright palettes, and a sense of stillness, became emblematic of his style during this period. They also reflect a quieter, more intimate narrative, often portraying friends, lovers, and the domestic spaces of his life.
Hockney's creative exploration extended beyond painting. He has worked extensively in drawing, printmaking, photography, and stage design. In the 1980s, he began experimenting with photocollages, or what he called "joiners"—composite images made from multiple Polaroid or 35mm prints arranged into dynamic panoramas that challenge conventional perspective. This exploration into fractured vision revealed his ongoing interest in how we perceive time, space, and reality.
Always ahead of his time, Hockney embraced digital technology with enthusiasm. In the 2000s, he began creating drawings on iPhones and iPads using the Brushes app, producing vibrant, immediate works that he often shared via email. Later, he explored video installations and large-scale multi-screen projects that pushed the boundaries of traditional landscape art.
Throughout his career, Hockney has also made significant contributions to art theory, particularly in his investigations into the use of optics and lenses by the Old Masters. His 2001 book and accompanying documentary, Secret Knowledge: Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters, stirred considerable debate and showcased his deep curiosity about the history and mechanics of visual art.
Hockney's impact on the art world has been recognized with numerous accolades. He was appointed to the Order of Merit in the UK and has exhibited at major institutions worldwide, including retrospectives at Tate Britain, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Centre Pompidou. Despite his global fame, he remains deeply committed to the act of seeing, often stating, "I am always excited by the world I see."
Today, David Hockney continues to create from his home and studio in Normandy, France, producing radiant landscapes and digital works that reflect his enduring fascination with nature, perception, and color. His boundless curiosity, technical innovation, and unique ability to capture the joys of everyday life have secured his place as one of the greatest living artists.
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