%C2%A9 David Hockney
The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost Stood Still as Stone, 1969 (published 1970)
David Hockneyexpand_more
Etching on handmade paperexpand_more
Gift of Fay M. Gallus and Richard Sweetexpand_more 2017.152.5
Not on Viewexpand_more
A landmark of 20th-century book illustration, David Hockney’s unconventional interpretation of fairy tales selected from the hundreds compiled by the Brothers Grimm (Jakob Ludwig Carl Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm) during the 19th century, considers the supernatural and psychological content of these bizarre stories in visual terms. With a virtuoso handling of linear and tonal intaglio printmaking, Hockney explores the characters’ motivations, values, and temperaments, presenting his own reading of the tales while seeking a greater understanding of human mentality. The illustrations also reference art of the past, a common feature of Hockney’s work, with visual allusions to Uccello, Carpaccio, Leonardo, Brueghel, and René Magritte. As a result, there is a timeless quality to the images that complements the stories’ centuries-old legacy of folklore.
Details
- Title
- The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost Stood Still as Stone
- Artist Life
- British (active United States), born 1937
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2017.152.5
- Provenance
- Richard M. Sweet, M.D., Santa Rosa, Calif.; given to MIA, 2017.
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Scottish Arts Council 90
- Curator Approved
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© David Hockney