Back to: Lithographic Water series
David Hockney's Lithograph of Water Made of Lines, a Green Wash, and a Light Blue Wash is part of the landmark Lithograph of Water Made of Lines series created between 1978 and 1980 in collaboration with master printer Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics, New York. Produced as a lithograph in colours on handmade paper and published in an edition of 37 plus 12 artist's proofs, the work explores Hockney's enduring fascination with swimming pools, using delicate linear mark-making and translucent washes to recreate the constantly changing qualities of water, light and reflection.
Rather than depicting water through conventional realism, Hockney constructs its surface from an intricate network of intersecting lines, layered with soft green and light blue washes that evoke transparency, depth and movement. The restrained palette creates a luminous atmosphere while demonstrating Hockney's technical mastery of lithography and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of printmaking. Today, the Lithograph of Water Made of Lines series is regarded as one of the defining achievements of Hockney's printmaking career, reflecting his lifelong exploration of perception and the visual complexities of water.
