David Hockney French Shop For Sale

French Shop is a signed print created by David Hockney in 1971. The print depicts the exterior of the titular ‘French Shop’. The building is very simple and geometric in its format, complete with three window, two curtained doors, and the sign ‘Alimentation’. Outside the shop, Hockney has added a cactus-like plant, whose leaves sprawl up towards window. The building is reminiscent of Hockney’s other works, such as the pink buildings that feature in the background of his seminal ‘A Bigger Splash’ (1967). Both buildings are depicted mostly two-dimensional with a very square format in both the building and the windows, complete with touch of foliage outside. Unlike the flat and smooth painting style of A Bigger Splash, Hockney uses crosshatching in this etching to convey texture and add a sense of realism, from the sign on the shopfront, to the windows, to the curtains. This style of cross-hatching is prominent in some of his other work, such as Rue de Seine, published in the same year. There is an abundance of

different textures within this print, there is the typical Hockney cross-hatching on the buildings surface, there is a dashed texture on the roof and the window shutters, as well as the fabric material of the curtains and the texture of the brick wall. Hockney’s ability to depict a multitude of textures within a single print shows his mastery of the subject of etching. The reflective surface of the shop window adds further detail to the etching, as not only does it reflect the exterior, but hints at the presence of the view.

This print is one that celebrates the everyday, a theme which is recurrent throughout much of Hockney’s oeuvre. The ordinary, yet charming, French storefront is elevated to the extraordinary through Hockney’s ability to find the beauty in the commonplace. This period marked a change in Hockney’s artistic style, as he began experimenting further with different mediums and techniques. Up to this point, much of Hockney’s subject matter came from his new-found freedom in the sexually liberated California, where many of his paintings focused on his lovers and partners. This print was created in the aftermath of Hockney’s ex-lover Peter Schlesinger moving out from their home. As a result, much of Hockney’s works from this period are embedded with a feeling of isolation. There is a real sense of absence within this print, due to the lack of figures during a period where Hockney’s work was often portrait-based, in a shop scene where people are often found in abundance.

Buy French Shop

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

Sell David Hockney French Shop

With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your French Shop 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 French Shop print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. Explore our collection of David Hockney original prints for sale.