black and white etching; rear view of a man on a white horse in a field; tower or wall along right edge of scene; strands of long hair in URC

%C2%A9 David Hockney

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down your Hair, 1969 (published 1970)

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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
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down your Hair
Artist Life
British (active United States), born 1937
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2017.152.4
Provenance
Richard M. Sweet, M.D., Santa Rosa, Calif.; given to MIA, 2017.
Catalogue Raisonne
Scottish Arts Council 86; Tokyo 85
Curator Approved

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black and white etching; rear view of a man on a white horse in a field; tower or wall along right edge of scene; strands of long hair in URC

© David Hockney

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