Christie’s unveils David Hockney’s unseen masterpiece, “California,” after 40 years

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Christie’s is set to present David Hockney’s renowned masterpiece, “California” (1965), with an estimated value in the vicinity of £16,000,000, as a standout piece in the 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale on March 7. This painting, a key part of Hockney’s early swimming pool series, has been in the possession of the same European private collection since 1968 and has not been publicly exhibited for over 40 years.

Originally acquired in 1968, “California” was unveiled in London on January 25 before embarking on a touring exhibition that includes stops in Paris from February 3 to 8 and New York from February 15 to 19. The painting will then be on display at Christie’s global headquarters on King Street in London from March 1 to 7. It holds a special place among Hockney’s early pool paintings, considered by art historians Paul Melia and Ulrich Luckhardt as one of his most significant contributions to the genre.

Katharine Arnold, Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Europe: “David Hockney’s pool paintings have become some of the most iconic and loved images of our time. California is an exceptional painting made shortly after Hockney’s first trip to Los Angeles in 1964 where he marvelled at the brilliant light and mosaic-like cityscape populated by bright blue swimming pools. After a childhood brought up in the north of England, and having studied in London, still reeling from the Second World War, California must have felt like Arcadia; a beautiful place to be free and enjoy being young. This sense of the artist’s optimism and   jubilation   is   in   the   very   fabric   of Hockney’s California. Owned by a private European collector since 1968 and last seen in public in 1979, this painting is sensational and follows in the footsteps of Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), which achieved a world record at Christie’s in 2018.”

Joseph Braka, Junior Specialist, Post-War and Contemporary Art, London: “As one of David Hockney’s first of a series of now fabled pool paintings, California stands as one of the most important pictures of the artist’s career. Executed on a grand scale, with dynamic line and vibrant colour, the painting vividly conveys the wide-eyed exhilaration of a young Englishman plunged into a social revolution sweeping the West Coast of America. Through a body of tangled lines and cells, emblematic of his early style before his move towards naturalism, Hockney masterfully captures the elusive and ever-changing properties of water and light.”

This masterpiece, embodying a carefree summer atmosphere, is one of Hockney’s earliest interpretations of the swimming pool theme. “California” is characterized by its kaleidoscopic representation of moving water and marks the inclusion of figures in Hockney’s pool paintings. Notably, it preceded other celebrated works like “A Bigger Splash” (1967) and “Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” (1972), laying the groundwork for these iconic pieces.

The elusive qualities of water and light, central themes in Hockney’s practice, are expertly captured in “California.” The painting’s stylized depiction, featuring tangled lines and cells, reflects Hockney’s early exploration of vision and perception. This distinctive vocabulary predates his later shift towards naturalism and the creation of landmark double portraits during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Hockney deemed “California” so integral to his body of work that, when unable to include it in his 1988 retrospective at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, he crafted his own copy, now part of the museum’s permanent collection.

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