Tulips
Medium: Etching and aquatint on German mould-made Museum Board
Year: 1973
Image: 27 x 21 1/4 inches (68.7 x 54.1 cm)
Sheet: 36 x 28 1/8 inches (91.5 x 71.3 cm)
Edition: 75
Artist’s Proofs: 16 AP
Printer: Maurice Payne, London
Publisher: Petersburg Press, New-York and London
Literature: Scottish Arts Council (158), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (142)
Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil with the artist’s copyright blindstamp
Since the 1960s, flowers have been a central theme of David Hockney’s work. From etchings to lithographs to iPad drawings, the humble vase of flowers has been under constant review by the British artist.
Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1889, Philadelphia Museum of Art. Image: Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Mr. and Mrs. Carroll S. Tyson, Jr., Collection, 1963
A keen student of this art historical tradition, Hockney was initially drawn to Vincent Van Gogh’s sunflower painting’s from the late 1880s. Throughout the years, Hockney, alike Van Gogh, has frequently returned to the subject of flowers. His exploration of the floral still life as a formal composition further provided him a means of exploring medium, specifically diverse printmaking techniques.
Michael Viard, David Hockney with tulips in Paris, 1973
© M. Viard/Horizonfeatures/Bridgeman Images
Showcasing his mastery of the various printing methods, Hockney’s depictions of flowers are delicate and moving works exemplar of the development of his unique style, excitement regarding new printing techniques, and his endless experimentations with colour, form, and line.
Source: Phillips
Auction Results
The Evelyn D. Farland Collection
Doyle New-York: 19 November 2025
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 32,000
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
TULIPS (S.A.C. 158; M.C.A.T. 142), 1973
Etching and aquatint on heavy wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 35/75 in pencil
Published by Petersburg Press, London and New York
Phillips London: 21 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 33,020 / USD 40,900
DAVID HOCKNEY
Tulips (S.A.C. 158, M.C.A.T. 142), 1973
Etching and aquatint on heavy wove paper
Signed, dated and annotated ‘A.P.’ in pencil
One of 16 artist’s proofs, the edition was 75
Christie’s New-York: 28 October 2022
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 50,400
DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Tulips, 1973
Etching and aquatint on German mould-made museum board
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 54/75
Sotheby’s New-York: 21 April 2022
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 56,700
AUCTION RECORD FOR TULIPS
DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Tulips (Scottish Arts Council 158; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo 142), 1973
Etching and aquatint on German mould-made Museum Board
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 34/75
Phillips London: 20 January 2022
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 34,020 / USD 46,350
DAVID HOCKNEY
Tulips (S.A.C. 158, M.C.A.T. 142), 1973
Etching and aquatint on German mould-made Museum Board
Signed, dated and annotated ‘A.P.’ in pencil (one of 16 artist’s proofs, the edition was 75)
New Orleans Auctions: 11 April 2021
Estimated: USD 7,000 – 10,000
USD 30,000 (Hammer)
USD 37,500
DAVID HOCKNEY (British, b. 1937)
“Tulips”, 1973
Etching and aquatint
Signed in pencil lower right, numbered “12/75” lower left
Property from the Collection of Robert and Annette Klayman
Sotheby’s New-York: 16 December 2020
Estimated: USD 10,000 – 15,000
USD 47,880
DAVID HOCKNEY (b.1937)
Tulips (S.A.C. 158; M.C.A.T. 142), 1973
Etching and aquatint on German mould-made paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 51/75