David Hockney Pool Prints: Explore David Hockney's Swimming Pool Print Series

  • Afternoon Swimming, 1979, lithograph by David Hockney

    Afternoon Swimming, 1979

    Lithograph in colours, on Arches Cover paper, signed and dated in white pencil

    Edition of 55 (there were also eighteen artist's proofs), published by Tyler Graphics, Mount Kisco
    Sheet: 31 5/8 x 39 ½ in

    ©David Hockney

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    David Hockney's pool prints are among some of the most recognisable works of his career, reflecting a lifelong fascination with California, swimming pools and the ever-changing qualities of light and water. Spanning a variety of printmaking techniques, these works include the celebrated Paper Pools and Lithographic Water series, alongside a number of standalone swimming pool prints created throughout his career. Together, they demonstrate the artist's continual experimentation with colour, texture and varying print processes. 

     

    From the unique paper pulp works of Paper Pools to the technical innovations of Lithographic Water, you'll find dedicated series guides, market insights and collector information, as well as other notable pool-themed prints that sit outside these two principal series. Whether you're looking to learn more about Hockney's swimming pool prints or explore the individual series in greater depth, this page provides an overview of one of the defining themes of his printmaking career.

     

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  • Pool Print Series:

    Explore print series by David Hockney depicting the Pool motif
  • "If the water surface is almost still and there is a strong sun, then dancing lines with the colours of the spectrum appear everywhere."
     
    - David Hockney
     

    David Hockney's fascination with swimming pools began in 1964 after his first visit to Los Angeles, where the city's bright light, modern architecture and abundance of private pools became a defining influence on his work. Having grown up in post-war Bradford, Hockney was captivated by the contrast between northern England and Southern California, describing the swimming pool as both a symbol of the Californian lifestyle and a compelling artistic challenge. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he returned repeatedly to the motif across paintings, drawings and prints, exploring the way light, reflection and movement transform the appearance of water.

  • The Story Behind the Paper Pools

    Exploring the Collaboration That Redefined Printmaking

  • More Pool Prints

  • How California Shaped David Hockney's Pool Paintings and Prints

    Portrait with an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) on display at Fondation Louis Vuitton

     

    How California Shaped David Hockney's Pool Paintings and Prints

    David Hockney's enduring fascination with swimming pools began during his first visit to Los Angeles in 1964. Flying over Southern California, he was struck by the countless blue pools scattered throughout the city, a dramatic contrast to the industrial landscapes of post-war Britain where he had grown up. Hockney later recalled that while a private swimming pool represented luxury in England, it was an everyday feature of Californian life. This observation transformed the swimming pool into more than just a subject for painting; it became a symbol of modernity, freedom and the American lifestyle. The motif would go on to define some of Hockney's most celebrated paintings, drawings and prints throughout his career.

     

    Beyond their visual appeal, swimming pools provided Hockney with an ideal subject through which to explore light, movement and perception. The constantly shifting surface of water presented a unique artistic challenge, allowing him to experiment with colour, reflection and transparency across a wide range of media, from acrylic paintings to lithographs and paper pulp works. While many of these works celebrate the bright, open atmosphere of California, they also reflect broader themes of identity, observation and personal freedom that emerged during the 1960s. Series including Lithographic Water and Paper Pools demonstrate how Hockney continually revisited the swimming pool motif throughout his career.

     
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