$80 Million Record-Breaking painting at Christie's

No contemporary painting is worth that much IMHO. If it was, the fact that someone other than the man who actually painted it gets it, is just wrong.

 

Not sure how familiar you are with Hockney, or his work, but this is typical of his style. It is that typicality, as well as the sheer size of the canvas (three metres wide) that makes the painting so desirable as an art market object.

The man standing is Hockney’s ex-lover, Peter Schlesinger. Hockney painted Schlesinger numerous times during their relationship, often in highly stylised California pool settings. Not sure who the man swimming is; most likely a member of their social circle, perhaps another lover.

I’m not seeing a huge amount of mystery here myself, but, then again, I’m not a fan of Hockney’s work. To me, it’s a lifestyle painting that depicts an aspirational, idealistic, perhaps even hedonistic, side of gay culture. That’s a huge part of its appeal, to many.

Hockney was originally from the northern English city of Bradford. Apologies to anyone from Bradford, but it’s not the most glamorous of places. When he moved to California in the 1960s, Hockney embraced the possibilities that being monied could bring in that particular time and place, and his paintings reflect that.

 

Alas, my paintings never fetch that much. Perhaps a hedonistically heterosexual lifestyle is the culprit.


Cat

 

How much does his work usually sell for? Also why is it so highly regarded?

1950s : Paintings : Works | David Hockney

 

I never go to galleries either, but museums are a regular thing for me. There's nothing like seeing a painting (especially something like the Hockney) up close.

 

...it's mindblowing! being that close to a favorite painting...I get the chills.

 

It's about sex and longing among the beautiful in California. A lot of Hockney's paintings are like that. He fell in love with the light on the West Coast and that influenced their look.

 

I recently saw a robe that I wanted to buy for my wife...until I saw that it was $710. She actually went on Amazon and found something that looked 99% the same for $15. I asked an acquaintance who had recently written a book about lingerie if $710 seemed out of line. He response was, "it's ok if you can't afford things." I then asked if it was ok for me to buy the one that was $15 since I couldn't afford the $710 and she said, "no."

 

They're worth whatever people are willing to pay for them, nothing new about that at all.

 

I love this thread. Let's now discuss a three meter pair of Audioquest interconnects for $21,000.

 

The entire fashion industry consists of expensive items and cheap knock-off versions. It would be interesting to hear her explanation of exactly why 2 oz of silk is worth $710. Not convincing, mind you, but interesting.

 

That's sort of what I was hoping for too, but she clearly wasn't giving it to me. One of the bullet points in her book promo is that 'good lingerie is worth paying for.' But paying$700+? Another point in her book says that you can find a lot of things on Amazon...which I did.

 

I really like the landscape in the Hockney piece. I'm a bit put off by the guy in the Miami Vice sports jacket and the dude swimming in his tighty-whities.

 

Despite Hockney’s strong connection to California pool culture, this particular location was Le Nid-du-Duc, in the south of France. You can read more about the painting’s origins, and view a preliminary photograph, here:

David Hockney’s Portrait of an Artist ( Pool with Two Figures) | Christie's

 

One of Meryl Streep's best speeches in The Devil Wears Prada was about how the fashion industry works - expensive designer wear down to discount stores:

 

That was a very, very ugly yacht. Normally, I think Steve Jobs had great taste, but this was a huge lapse. On the other hand, he died before the boat was finished, so who knows...

 

You mean you would have screamed obscenities at them and made them do it all over again?

 

very very sad...

 

No Beatles comments in this thread yet? I guess I'll go first. I was lucky enough to see Paul McCartney perform at Pappy and Harriet's two years ago. I stood along the rail separating the crowd from the VIP standing area. A little old man was escorted in and someone went to go find a chair for him. At first glance, he reminded me of Paul's grandfather in "A Hard Day's Night", but then I heard someone mention it was David Hockney. I had seen his artwork before, but didn't know what he looked like. Seeing Paul in such a small venue was a rarity in itself, but watching Paul while standing 15 feet from an artist who might have a single painting sell for $80 million? Mind boggling!

 

Barrrrffffff

 

I'm so happy art has value.

 

Or just refused to pay until it was right. But it's one skug-ugly boat. His widow (Laurene Powell) kept the $100-million yacht and was recently seen on it with her new boyfriend on vacation:

Barstool Sports

 

!!!!!!! fetches $90M !!!!!!!

David Hockney's "Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)" was auctioned Thursday at Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York City for a record $90 million, which smashed the $58.4 million record set by Jeff Koons' "Balloon Dog" in 2013.

Painting fetches $90M in record-setting auction

 

My thought: CRAP. I'll give you $40 at a sidewalk art festival, which is where it belongs. I don't care if it is DAVID HOCKNEY (who managed something interesting with this Polaroid collages) this work is CRAP. I saw pieces so much better at the last art show I went to, let's see, oh, "Beyond the Streets" a street art show curated by Roger Gastman. This is great coverage of the show, hosted by Gastman.