David Hockney’s Digging Up Glass is an etching that forms part of the series Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm. The work captures a moment of tension and transformation, depicting a piece of glass being crushed beneath the foot of an anonymous figure. Rather than illustrating a specific narrative scene, Hockney evokes the atmosphere and underlying themes of the fairy tale, translating its psychological intensity into a stark and symbolic image.

The composition is defined by sharp, angular fragments of broken glass scattered across the lower portion of the print, suggesting that the act of destruction is already underway. Tiny particles appear suspended in the air, heightening the sense of movement and immediacy. This moment of impact introduces an implicit violence, as the fragile material is shattered under pressure, becoming a metaphor for rupture and confinement.
Inspired by the tale of “Old Rinkrank” from the Grimms' Fairy Tales, the image alludes to the story of a princess trapped within a glass mountain. Hockney does not attempt a literal depiction; instead, he distils the narrative into a single charged gesture that conveys the essence of the story’s tension. As with his earlier graphic works, he explores how imagery can suggest a broader emotional and symbolic world.

Created during a period when Hockney was deeply engaged with printmaking, Digging Up Glass reflects his experimental approach to etching and storytelling. By focusing on mood rather than direct illustration, he transforms a traditional narrative into a modern visual language, capturing the fragility, unease, and latent drama embedded within the fairy tale tradition.