David Hockney is a famous British artist who turned to the depiction of his pets in his work. In the 1990s, he created a unique series of paintings dedicated to his dachshunds Stanley and Budgie.
Hockney showed an interest in art from an early age, so he graduated first from the Bradford School of Art, and then from the Royal College of Art in London. Even then, his works were distinguished by their brightness, experimental composition and unusual theme, often reflecting his personal experiences, worldview and interest in culture.
In the early 1960s, Hockney moved to Los Angeles, which became a turning point in his work. There he worked in a photorealistic style of painting and developed a subtle manner of drawing.
In the late 1980s, Hockney began to actively use photography, creating so-called "photo collages" or "photographic canvases". He created many photographs, in some cases large-format Polaroids and photo collages, although this method was created by him a year earlier and called "Joiners".
Since 1995, Hockney has constantly depicted his pets, capturing their everyday moments, whether playing or napping, and this theme quickly became one of the most recognizable in his work. For Hockney, these two dachshunds were not just pets, but true friends who shared his everyday life.
"I'm not going to apologize for the ordinariness of the subject ... these two beautiful little creatures are my true friends," Hockney admitted, explaining why he decided to pay tribute to their charm.
His works feel a warm affection and respect for these small, but very significant creatures in his life. Using a rich color palette and expressive brushstrokes, Hockney managed to convey the mood, character and even the smallest individual traits of his pets, showing them in various moments: how they sweetly doze, play and simply enjoy life next to their beloved owner.
The paintings collected in the book "Dog Days of David Hockney" aroused great interest and became not only a bright addition to his creative legacy, but also a cultural phenomenon. Hockney managed to capture the image of dachshunds as a symbol of not only friendship and affection, but also the simple joys of everyday life.
Source:
artchive.com
artsandculture.google.com
