Childers had regularly photographed British artist David Hockney for more than ten years when he captured this shot of Hockney in an inflatable boat. Arguably the most iconic photograph of Hockney ever taken, Childers was inspired by an image of the French photographer Jacques Lartigue (1894–1986), of Lartigue’s brother in a suit floating in an inner tube. Childers convinced Hockney to take this shot in Childers’ own swimming pool, and Hockney agreed, despite the expensive Savile Row suit he was wearing. The setting is especially fitting as Hockney employed the motif of California swimming pools in many of his own paintings.

Gillian Holzer SC19

The work is signed on the front (lower right, border) and bears the title “David Hockney at Rising Glen,” edition number 52/60, and year of creation “1978” on the back.

Hockney, at the photographer's home in the Hollywood Hills, is photographed sitting in an inflatable raft while dressed in a fine suit, complete with bowtie.

This object has the following keywords:

• Artists and Craftsmen
• Males

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