Piscine a Minuit (Paper Pool 19): Paper pool work by David Hockney

  • Piscine à Minuit (Paper Pool 19), 1978, work by David Hockney

    Piscine à Minuit (Paper Pool 19), 1978

    Coloured and Pressed Paper Pulp, 72 x 85.5

    Unique work

    ©David Hockney

    BACK TO: PAPER POOL

     

    David Hockney's Piscine à Minuit (Paper Pool 19), 1978, presents a striking departure from the bright Californian palette typically associated with the Paper Pools series. Created in coloured, pressed paper pulp, the work depicts a swimming pool at night, where deep black skies and rich blue tones create a quiet, atmospheric scene. Viewed from the end of the diving board, the composition draws the eye towards the softly illuminated pool, with gentle colour transitions conveying the depth and stillness of the water.

     

    Created in collaboration with Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics, Piscine à Minuit (Paper Pool 19) demonstrates David Hockney's ability to capture mood through colour and simplified geometry. The textured paper pulp gives the water a luminous quality, while the limited palette emphasises the contrast between darkness and reflected light. Widely regarded as a unique work, Piscine à Minuit showcases Hockney's continued experimentation with perspective, atmosphere and the expressive possibilities of handmade paper.

  • “I can find excitement, I admit, in raindrops falling on a puddle and a lot of people wouldn't.”

     

    - David Hockney

    David Hockney has long been fascinated by the beauty of everyday life, believing that ordinary subjects can become extraordinary through careful observation. Throughout his career, he has depicted familiar scenes including swimming pools, gardens, domestic interiors and landscapes, using them to explore colour, light and perspective. Rather than seeking dramatic subject matter, Hockney celebrates the everyday, encouraging viewers to look more closely at the world around them and recognise beauty in the commonplace.