Print Guide: David Hockney Lightning (M.C.A.T 130) For Sale: David Hockney's Lighting (1973) print guide. Learn about value, edition details, and how to buy or sell this Hockney print with Andipa Editions. See price and availability below

  • David Hockney Lightning

    David Hockney Lightning (M.C.A.T 130)

    Lightning (1973) is one of the most dramatic prints from The Weather Series by David Hockney. The series explores the fleeting nature of atmospheric phenomena and reflects Hockney’s fascination with representing weather as both a visual and emotional experience. Produced in collaboration with the renowned print workshop Gemini G.E.L., the portfolio marked a period of technical experimentation in which Hockney combined lithography and screenprinting. Through bold contrasts of light and dark, Lightning captures the sudden energy of a storm while demonstrating the artist’s ability to transform natural events into powerful, expressive imagery within contemporary printmaking.

     

    Artist: David Hockney
    Title: Lighting
    Year: 1973
    Catalogue Raisonné:     Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, David Hockney Prints 1954–1977: A Catalogue Raisonné, (M.C.A.T. 130)
    Medium: Lithograph
    Edition:  Edition of 98 TP, signed and numbered in pencil lower right/left.
    Size: 99.6 x 80.3 cm (39.2 x 31.6 inches)
    Printer:  
    Publisher:  

     

    Availibility: Not Currently available.

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  • About David Hockney Lightning

    In Lightning, David Hockney depicts a dramatic landscape dominated by a turbulent sky and a bright flash of lightning cutting through dense clouds. Below, an undulating valley and winding road lead the viewer’s eye through the composition, enhancing the sense of depth and movement. The stark monochrome palette intensifies the contrast between the dark storm clouds and the brilliant white lightning strike, capturing the sudden force of a thunderstorm. Hockney produced the print using experimental techniques developed with printers at Gemini G.E.L., combining lithography and screenprinting to achieve strong tonal effects. The work also reflects the influence of Japanese woodblock traditions, particularly those of Katsushika Hokusai, whose stylised depictions of nature inspired Hockney’s expressive treatment of landscape and atmosphere.

  • David Hockney Lightning

    Hockney once remarked, ‘Shadows sometimes people don’t see shadows…oriental art never deals with shadow. But I noticed these shadows and I knew it meant it was sunny.’ 

    David Hockney’s Lightning, 1973, is one of the most striking lithographs from his innovative The Weather series. A sequence of six prints, in which Hockney depicts the ephemerality of weather conditions: ‘the subject matter is really the weather drawn, not just the weather itself.’
    The monochromatic depiction is of a darkened, haunting valley with winding roads, overhead is the heavy grim dark sky with thick clouds and the threat of rainclouds above. The darkened rainclouds are contrasted with lighter fluffier clouds lying below, almost like a silver lining, giving hope of finer weather on its way. However, both are punctuated by a graphic strip of lightning strikes, which emerge like a bright white flash out of the thick clouds: Hockney uses the contrasting atmospheres to suggest at the transience of weather conditions and the potential of a dramatic thunderstorm to completely clear the way for sun. In doing so, the artist, arguably is using the weather metaphorically commenting on ideas of self and identity: Carl Jung famously spoke of the power of the shadow we all carry around, darkly threatening our conscious existence.
    The saturated darkness of the composition, which depicts an undulating road weaving between the rolling hills, relates back to Hockney’s enchantment with the Brothers Grimm fairytales, which influenced his 1969 landscape series: later the artist reimagined these scenic vistas in his popular colourful depictions of his Yorkshire hometown. (Tree Tunnel, The Road to York Through Sledmere etc)
    Hockney’s fascination with 18th Century Japanese artist Hokusai and his pioneering u-kioye woodblock printing techniques is evident in the Lightning print, which dramatically merges screen-printing and lithograph for the first time.

     

  • Buy or sell Lightning by David Hockney at Andipa Editions

    Buy Lightning 

    Andipa Editions, as part of Andipa, have been at the forefront of the Hockney market for over 20 years. To enquire about buying  Lightning by David Hockney, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371.

     

     

    Sell David Hockney Lightning

    With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your Lightning print. Straight-forward and stress-free, we manage the process on your behalf and help to maximise your return. For a complimentary valuation of your Lightning print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. Explore our collection of David Hockney original prints for sale.

  • Current Availability

    David Hockney's Lighting is not currently available. 
     

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  • Study of Lightning

    Edition Notes:

    Lighting, was published in an edition of 98 TP, signed and numbered in pencil lower left/right. Generally, proofs and standard edition examples can differ in market value depending on rarity and condition. 

     

    Signature:

    The print is signed and numbered in pencil lower right. The presence and clarity of the signature is an important factor and feature in authentication and value assessment.

     

    Condition:

    Given the age and rarity of Lightning, condition is a critical factor in determining value. Each example we handle is carefully examined for foxing, time-staining, handling marks, edge wear, or tears, all of which can impact desirability and price.

     

    Provenance:

    Where possible, provenance is researched and documented: exhibition history, collection records, and publication references can significantly enhance confidence and value for collectors.

     

    Pricing and Value Guidance:

    Due to scarcity and private market activity, prices for David Hockney's Lighting, can vary widely. As a general guide, values are influenced by: overall condition; edition size; whether it's signed; proof versus standard edition; provenance; and current market demand for Hockney prints. 

  • Andipa is here to help guide and assist you; to ensure that your journey in acquiring art is an enjoyable and explorative one.

    FAQs

    Is Lightning David Hockney's first print?

    No, Lightning is not David Hockney's first print. It is a lithograph created in 1973 as part of his Weather Series. By 1973, Hockney was already an established printmaker.

     

    Is Lightning signed by David Hockney?

    The print is signed in pencil lower left/right.

     

    How rare is David Hockney's Lightning?

    David Hockney's Lightning  is a very rare, highly desirable lithograph with a limited edition of 8 TP.

     

    Can Andipa Editions source Lightning privately?

    Yes. We regularly source this print for collectors through our private and trusted network.

     

    How much is David Hockney's Lightning worth?

    Values vary based on condition, edition type, and provenance. Please do contact Andipa Editions for current market guidance; we'd be delighted to assist you.

  • Every artwork begins with a story. Every collection begins with a conversation. We invite you to begin yours with Andipa, for generations to come.

    Sell a David Hockney Lightning Print

    If you own an original Lightning, print by David Hockney and are considering selling, Andipa Editions would be delighted to assist and present it to our collectors on your behalf. We offer confidential, no-obligation valuations based on current market conditions and can advise on the most appropriate route to market; handling authentication, marketing, and negotiation on your behalf and support this collaborative selling journey at every step.

     

    Enquire about Selling

    Buy a David Hockney Lightning Print with Andipa Editions

    Andipa Editions has six decades of experience advising collectors across the world on the acquisition of important prints by Andy Warhol. If Lightning is not currently available, we can actively source this work privately, conduct full due diligence, prepare condition reports, and manage all logistics, including framing, insured shipping, and international delivery to ensure it reaches you safely and smoothly.

     

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