David Hockney's Pioneering English Landscape Resurfaces for Major Auction
David Hockney's inaugural English landscape painting, a pivotal work titled English Garden from 1965, is set to be sold at Sotheby's in London on March 4. This marks the first public exhibition of the artwork in almost thirty years, offering a rare glimpse into a formative period of the artist's career.
A Seminal Work with Historic Significance
The painting, depicting a meticulously manicured Oxfordshire garden, is estimated to fetch between £2.5 million and £3.5 million. According to Sotheby's co-head of contemporary art in London, Tom Edisson, English Garden is not only crucial to Hockney's development but also holds a significant place in broader art history.
"It is a seminal painting," Edisson emphasized. "It really lays the foundations for everything that was to come after." The work represents Hockney's first fully realized English landscape, created during an era when abstract art dominated the scene, making its figurative approach particularly noteworthy.
Inspired by Nostalgia in Colorado
Hockney painted English Garden while teaching at the University of Boulder, Colorado, shortly after graduating from art school. Despite being surrounded by the stunning Rocky Mountains, he found himself in a windowless studio, which limited his direct environmental inspiration.
Seeking creative stimulus, Hockney encountered a photograph in American Vogue by Horst P. Horst, showcasing the sculpted topiary garden at Haseley Court in Oxfordshire—the home of designer Nancy Lancaster. This image sparked a sense of nostalgia and homesickness, compelling him to depict England's verdant landscapes from afar.
"You have a pang of nostalgia, maybe a bit of homesickness, looking back at England's green and pleasant lands," Edisson noted. "I think that spurred him on to paint home."
Exhibition History and Private Ownership
Initially exhibited at the Kasmin Gallery in London in 1965, English Garden was last publicly displayed in a 1970 show at the Whitechapel Gallery. Since then, it has remained in private collections, with its most recent auction appearance in 1997. Its current pre-sale display at Sotheby's central London galleries provides a unique opportunity for art enthusiasts to view this historic piece.
Connecting to Hockney's Later Works
Edisson highlighted that English Garden establishes a direct link to Hockney's later, more renowned works, such as his California pool paintings and recent depictions of the East Yorkshire landscape. These series are among the most celebrated of his career, and this early landscape serves as a foundational element.
"It cements so much of what we know Hockney's practice is about and what we've all come to love about him as an artist," Edisson remarked. "It was a real turning point."
Hockney's Enduring Legacy
At 88 years old, David Hockney continues to be a dynamic force in contemporary art. An exhibition of his new works is scheduled to open at London's Serpentine Gallery in March, following the largest-ever Hockney showcase last year at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. That exhibition featured over 400 pieces, underscoring his ambitious and driven nature.
"He is constantly challenging himself," Edisson observed. "He is still at the forefront of contemporary art, and this painting [English Garden] is to me the root of everything that came after."
The auction of English Garden not only highlights a key moment in Hockney's artistic journey but also reaffirms his lasting impact on the art world, bridging his early innovations with his ongoing creative explorations.
