Lithograph of water made of lines, 1978-80: Lithograph print by David Hockney

  • Lithograph of Water Made of Lines, 1978-1980, lithograph on paper by David Hockney

    Lithograph of Water Made of Lines, 1978-1980

    Lithograph on paper

    Edition of 39, 66.0 x 87.6cm

    ©David Hockney

    Back to: Lithographic  Water series

     

    David Hockney's Lithograph of Water Made of Lines, 1978–1980, is one of the defining works from his celebrated Lithographic Water series, demonstrating his innovative approach to representing the movement and transparency of water through printmaking. Produced as a lithograph on paper in an edition of 39, the composition depicts a swimming pool from an elevated viewpoint, with a diving board extending across the upper edge of the image. Rather than relying on blocks of colour, Hockney constructs the water almost entirely from expressive blue lines, creating the illusion of ripples, reflections and shifting light while revealing the geometric grid of the pool beneath.

     

    Created in collaboration with Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics, Lithograph of Water Made of Lines highlights Hockney's mastery of lithography and his lifelong fascination with perception. The intricate network of hand-drawn marks transforms the flat surface of the print into a dynamic study of movement, demonstrating how simple linear forms can evoke depth, transparency and the constantly changing appearance of water. Today, the work is regarded as one of the most recognisable prints in the Lithographic Water series, exemplifying Hockney's ability to combine technical innovation with one of the most enduring themes of his artistic career.

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  • “Water in swimming pools changes its look more than in any other form its colour can be man-made and its dancing rhythms reflect not only the sky but, because of its transparency, the depth of the water as well.”

     

    - David Hockney

    David Hockney created the Lithographic Water series between 1978 and 1980 following the success of his experimental Paper Pools made with Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics. Having become increasingly fascinated by the challenge of depicting water, Hockney turned to lithography to explore how line, tone and colour could capture its constantly changing appearance. Rather than producing different compositions, he repeatedly returned to the same swimming pool scene, using each print to investigate new ways of representing reflections, movement and transparency.