A Large Diver (Paper Pool 27): Paper pulp work by David Hockney

  • A Large Diver (Paper Pool 27), 1978, David Hockney

    A Large Diver (Paper Pool 27), 1978

    Coloured and pressed paper pulp, 72 x 171 in

    Unique work 

    ©David Hockney

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    David Hockney's A Large Diver, Paper Pool 27, 1978 is one of the most dynamic works in the Paper Pools series, capturing the dramatic moment a diver enters the water. Created in coloured, pressed paper pulp in collaboration with Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics, the composition combines the crisp geometry of the diving board and pool with the explosive movement of a white splash and partially submerged figure. Unlike many of the more tranquil Paper Pools, this work introduces a strong sense of action, transforming the swimming pool from a still environment into a scene of energy and motion.

     

    Widely regarded as a unique work, A Large Diver demonstrates Hockney's remarkable ability to depict the complexity of moving water through handmade paper. Layers of coloured paper pulp create shimmering reflections and rippling textures across the pool's surface, while the diver's fragmented form appears almost dissolved into the water itself. The work reflects Hockney's lifelong fascination with perception, showing how light, movement and water continually alter what the eye observes, while further blurring the boundaries between printmaking, papermaking and painting.

  • "You look at the surface, you look below it, you look through it, every day it looks different."

     

    - David Hockney

    Throughout his career, Hockney was fascinated by the challenge of depicting movement within a still image. In A Large Diver, he captures a fleeting moment that lasts only seconds, using the splash, rippling water and partially submerged figure to suggest both the force of the dive and the constantly changing nature of water. The result is one of the most energetic compositions within the Paper Pools series.