WORK IN PROGRESS
Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
The complete portfolio of 39 etchings
Medium: Etching (some with aquatint) on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Year: 1969-1970
Sheet: 18 5/8 x 12 5/8 inches (47.5 x 32.1 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 20 (numbered in Roman numerals)
Publisher: Petersburg Press, London
Printer: The Print Shop, Amsterdam
Literature: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (67-105)
Six fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm with original etchings by David Hockney
London: Petersburg Press in association with the Kasmin Gallery, 1970
The print run comprised four editions each of 100 copies, which had a different set of six loose etchings in a separate folder
Etched frontispiece portrait of Catherina Dorothea Viehmann, 38 further etched and aquatint illustrations, with 6 separate loose etchings EACH SIGNED BY THE ARTIST (in pencil) loose in a separate portfolio, original blue leather boards, in a single matching blue leather slipcase, paper uncut
The translation into English is by Heiner Bastian, who met Hockney in Berlin in 1968.
From the deluxe Portfolio edition, there were also 100 examples of the editions A, B, and C, each with an additional suite of six different etchings and fifteen artist’s proof sets
A miniature edition was subsequently produced by Oxford University Press
Including: Catherina Dorothea Viehmann (S.A.C. 70); The princess in her tower (S.A.C. 71); The boy hidden in an egg (S.A.C. 72); The boy hidden in a fish (S.A.C. 73); The princess searching (S.A.C. 74); A wooded landscape (S.A.C. 75); The cook (S.A.C. 76); The pot boiling (S.A.C. 77); The rose and the rose stalk (S.A.C. 78); The church tower and the clock (S.A.C. 79); The lake (S.A.C. 80); Rapunzel growing in the garden (S.A.C. 81); The enchantress in her garden (S.A.C. 82); The enchantress with the baby Rapunzel (S.A.C. 83); The older Rapunzel (S.A.C. 84); The tower had one window (S.A.C. 85); Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair (S.A.C. 86); Home (S.A.C. 87); The bell tower (S.A.C. 88); The sexton disguised as a ghost (S.A.C. 89); The sexton disguised as a ghost stood still as stone (S.A.C. 90); Corpses on fire (S.A.C. 91); The haunted castle (S.A.C. 92); The carpenter’s bench, a knife and fire (S.A.C. 93); A black cat leaping (S.A.C. 94); The lathe and fire (S.A.C. 95); Inside the castle (S.A.C. 96); Cold water about to hit the prince (S.A.C. 97); The Glass Mountain (S.A.C. 98); Old Rinkrank threatens the princess (S.A.C. 99); Digging up glass (S.A.C. 100); The Glass Mountain shattered (S.A.C. 101); The rescued princess (S.A.C. 102); Gold (S.A.C. 103); A room full of straw (S.A.C. 104); Straw on the left, gold on the right (S.A.C. 105); Pleading for the child (S.A.C. 106); Riding around on a cooking spoons (S.A.C. 107); He tore himself in two (S.A.C. 108)
Hockney created 39 etchings for the series ‘Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm’. The etching plates were hand-drawn by David Hockney in London between May and November 1969, proofed by Maurice Payne and printed by Piet Clement on W.S.Hodgkinson paper. Published by the Petersburg Press in association with the Kasmin Gallery in 1970.
“They’re fascinating, the little stories, told in a very very simple, direct, straightforward language and style, it was this simplicity that attracted me. They cover quite a strange range of experience, from the magical to the moral.”
For this series Hockney selected six stories from the 220 by the Brothers Grimm, which he’d delighted in since childhood. These include ‘The Little Sea Hare’, ‘Fundevogel’, ‘Rapunzel’, ‘The Boy who left Home to learn Fear’, ‘Old Rinkrank’ and ‘Rumpelstilzchen’.
1. Catherina Dorothea Viehmann (MCAT 67)
Catherina Dorothea Viehmann
Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches
1. The Little Sea Hare
2. The Princess in Her Tower (MCAT 68)
The Princess in Her Tower
Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches
3. The Boy Hidden in an Egg
The Boy Hidden in an Egg
Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches
The Boy Hidden in a Fish
The Boy Hidden in a Fish
Dimensions: 13 1/2 x 15 inches
The Princess Searching
The Princess Searching
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
2. Fundevogel
A Wooded Landscape
A Wooded Landscape
Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches
The Cook
The Cook
Dimensions: 12 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches
The Pot Boiling
The Pot Boiling
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
The Rose and The Rose Stalk
The Rose and The Rose Stalk
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
The Church Tower and The Clock
The Church Tower and The Clock
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
The Lake
The Lake
Dimensions: 27 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
3. Rapunzel
Rapunzel Growing in the Garden
Rapunzel Growing in the Garden
Dimensions: 27 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
The Enchantress in her Garden
The Enchantress in her Garden
Dimensions: 12 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches
The Enchantress with the baby Rapunzel
The Enchantress with the baby Rapunzel
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
The Older Rapunzel
The Older Rapunzel
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
The Tower had one Window
The Tower had One Window
Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Hair
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4 inches
4. The Boy who Left Home to Learn Fear
Home
Home
Dimensions: 17 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches
The Bell Tower
The Bell Tower
Dimensions: 14 1/2 x 11 inches
The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost
The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 1/4
The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost Stood Still as Stone
The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost Stood Still as Stone
Dimensions: 17 1/2 x 12 1/2
Corpses on Fire
Corpses on Fire
Dimensions: 17 1/2 x 16 inches
The Haunted Castle
The Haunted Castle
Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches
The Carpenter’s Bench, a Knife and Fire
The Carpenter’s Bench, a Knife and Fire
Dimensions: 12 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches
A Black Cat Leaping
A Black Cat Leaping
Dimensions: 11 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches
The Lathe and Fire
The Lathe and Fire
Dimensions: 15 3/4 x 15 1/2 inches
Inside The Castle
Inside the Castle
Dimensions: 17 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches
Cold Water about to Hit the Prince
Cold Water about to Hit the Prince
Dimensions: 24 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches
5. Old Rinkrank
Old Rinkrank Threatens the Princess
Old Rinkrank Threatens the Princess
Dimensions: 17 1/2 x 16 inches
Digging Up Glass
Digging Up Glass
Dimensions: 12 x 12 1/2 inches
The Glass Mountain Shattered
The Glass Mountain Shattered
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 inches
The Rescued Princess
The Rescued Princess
Dimensions: 24 x 17 1/2 inches
6. Rumpelstilzchen
Gold
Gold
Dimensions: 24 1/4 x 17 3/4 inches
A Room Full of Straw
A Room Full of Straw
Dimensions: 19 x 15 1/2 inches
Straw on the Left, Gold on the Right
Straw on The Left, Gold on the Right
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 15 3/4 inches
Pleading for the Child
Pleading for the Child
Dimensions: 19 x 15 3/4 inches
Riding Around on a Cooking Spoon
Riding Around on a Cooking Spoon
Dimensions: 17 3/4 x 16 inches
He Tore Himself in Two (MCAT 105)
He Tore Himself in Two
Dimensions: 24 1/4 x 17 1/2 inches
Auction Results
1. Single Etchings
Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 4,000 – 6,000
GBP 2,032
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
He Tore Himself in Two, from Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1969
Etching and aquatint on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Signed in pencil, inscribed and numbered in brown ink verso Grimm Ed. B 75/100
Sotheby’s London: 23 September 2022
Estimated: GBP 3,500 – 5,000
GBP 4,410
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
The Tower Had One Window (S.A.C. 85; MCA Tokyo 92), 1969
Etching and aquatint on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Signed in pencil, inscribed and numbered in black ink verso ‘Grimm Ed. B. 2/100‘
Christie’s London: 28 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 3,000 – 5,000
GBP 3,500
DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
The Glass Mountain shattered, from: Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1969
Aquatint and etching on wove paper
Signed and numbered 83/100
Sotheby’s London: 14 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 3,000 – 4,000
GPB 3,780
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Catharina Dorothea Viehmann (S.A.C. 70; MCA Tokyo 67), from Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1969
Etching and aquatint on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Signed in pencil, inscribed and numbered A.P. XIV
One of 20 Artist’s proofs aside from the edition of 100
Sotheby’s London: 14 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 1,000 – 1,500
GBP 2,520
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
The Enchantress with the Baby Rapunzel (S.A.C. 83; MCA Tokyo 80), 1969
Etching and aquatint
signed in pencil, numbered 57/100
Sotheby’s London: 14 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 3,000 – 5,000
GBP 4,032
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Inside the Castle (S.A.C. 96; MCA Tokyo 93), from Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1969
Etching and aquatint on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Signed in pencil, numbered 51/100
Sotheby’s London: 16 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 400 – 600
GBP 3,276
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Corpses on Fire (S.A.C. 91; MCA Tokyo 88) from Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1969
Etching with aquatint and drypoint on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Signed in pencil, numbered 48/100
2. Various Sets
Christie’s New-York: 28 October 2023
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 119,700
DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, 1969-1970
The complete artist’s portfolio of 39 etchings on Hodgkinson handmade paper
Each signed in pencil, numbered 31⁄100 and annotated ‘Grimm Portfolio’ in sepia ink on the reverse
Also signed and annotated ‘Portfolio’ in pencil on the justification page
Numbered 31⁄100
Together with the table of contents and justification page
And an additional suite of 39 etchings bound as concertina folds as six books
Signed in pencil, numbered 31⁄100 on the title page, together with the original portfolio box
Christie’s London: 27 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 15,120
DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Illustrations for Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: six plates, 1969-70
Six etchings with aquatint on Hodgkinson handmade wove paper
Watermarked initials PP and DH
Each signed in pencil, inscribed Grimm, Ed. D and numbered 39/100 on the reverse
Lacking the bound volume with text and 39 plates
———-
Sotheby’s London: 14 December 2021
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 17,640
Grimm | Six fairy tales
Illustrated by David Hockney, with additional suite of six plates
Six fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm with original etchings by David Hockney. London: Petersburg Press in association with the Kasmin Gallery, 1970
Copy number 88/100 from edition B
Signed by the artist in pencil beneath the limitation statement
Printed on one side of the paper only with each page folded to show only the printed side of the leaves (in the style of a blockbook)
Etched frontispiece portrait of Catherina Dorothea Viehmann
38 further etched and aquatint illustrations
With 6 separate loose etchings EACH SIGNED BY THE ARTIST (in pencil) loose in a separate portfolio Original blue leather boards, in a single matching blue leather slipcase, paper uncut