David Hockney 25th March, 2021, Flowers on the Table Edge For Sale

David Hockney’s 25^th March, 2021 Flowers on a Table Edge, 2021 depicts a classic round shaped glass vase full of water and a joyful bunch of flowers. An artwork from his 20 Flowers and Some Bigger Pictures series, Hockney intensely studied the vase of flowers he had in his kitchen each day during the pandemic lockdown period. Captivated by the ‘low sun’ which reflected onto the vases during the early part of the year, the artist realised the different perspectives he could form around the same subject.

Hockney enjoyed the challenge of depicting a transparent glass vase with the sunlight reflecting off it – the use of smudging and wavering lines creates the fluidity of the water in the vase. Sunlight reflects off the side of the vase and onto the corner of the blue gingham tablecloth on which the vase of flowers sits.

The bunch of flowers is made up of verdant green leaves, stems and an array of buds in blue, yellow and brown sparsely arranged in the glass vase. The vase of flowers is situated against a solid burgundy background wall consistent with the other images in the series.

The artwork is clearly created through a digital medium: made up of multiple squiggly lines, smudged brushstrokes and unfinished shapes to generate a discourse with the traditional still life genre and ultimately engage in Hockney’s favourite pastime, art about art.