David Hockney's Small Dog (T344), created in 1995, is an etching with colour aquatint depicting one of the artist's most personal and recognisable subjects: his dachshunds. Measuring 42 × 56 cm and produced in an edition of 80, the work belongs to the period in which Hockney repeatedly drew, painted and printed his dogs, Stanley and Boodgie. The simplicity of the composition places attention firmly on the animal, reflecting Hockney's close observation of the dogs as they rested and moved around his home.
Small Dog also demonstrates Hockney's continued engagement with traditional printmaking techniques during the 1990s. The combination of etching and aquatint allowed him to balance expressive line with areas of colour and tone, translating the immediacy of his drawings into a limited-edition print. While modest in subject, the work connects to a much broader theme throughout Hockney's career: his fascination with depicting the people, places and animals closest to him through direct observation. Today, Small Dog forms part of the wider group of David Hockney dog prints that document his affectionate and sustained study of Stanley and Boodgie.
Small Dog (T344), 1995Etching with aquatint in color, H 42cm x W 56cmEdition of 80©David Hockney