An Image of Celia, State I, 1984, from the Moving Focus series is one of several works in which David Hockney reimagines his long-time muse Celia Birtwell through shifting perspectives and layered compositions. The image presents Celia reclining across a large, fragmented chair, constructed through multiple viewpoints that give the form a disjointed, almost Cubist quality. Beneath her, the floor is defined by linear, pencil-like marks that create a tunnelling effect in shades of blue, pink, beige, and black, drawing the viewer into the space. The background wall is rendered with a crosshatched pattern in pink, orange, and blue, further flattening and complicating the sense of depth within the composition.
Hockney introduces a dual portrayal of Celia, with one figure seated upright, her red arm and face turned to the left, while a second, more painterly version stretches across the upper part of the image, marked by a green-toned face and looser brushwork. This layering of figures reinforces his interest in multiple viewpoints and the construction of identity through perception. The work also highlights Hockney’s use of bold colour and strong directional mark-making, particularly in the floor’s radiating lines and the expressive blue tones of the secondary figure, which guide the viewer’s eye and enhance the sense of movement throughout the composition.
