Swimming pools became a staple of Hockney’s oeuvre early on in his career. Flying into Los Angeles for the first time in 1963, Hockney looked out of the airplane window and was immediately captivated by the striking blues of the countless swimming pools scattered throughout the city below. Following a move to this ‘promised land’ in 1964, Hockney visually defined Los Angeles through his celebrated pool paintings, including A Bigger Splash (1967) which currently resides in Tate Britain’s permanent collection.

Introduction

Instantly recognizable, David Hockney’s swimming pools are widely identified as the artist’s most famous motif. Embodying his fascination with post-war America and in particular, with the hedonism of California, Hockney’s swimming pools also serve as a metaphorical springboard into an extended investigation that spanned decades of his career: the formal challenge of representing water.

“It is an interesting formal problem; it is a formal problem to represent water, to describe water, because it can be anything. It can be any color and it has no set visual description.”

Lithograph of Water Made of Thick and Thin Lines and Two Light Blue Washes

The concern of depicting water has occupied artists throughout history. Lithograph of Water Made of Thick and Thin Lines and Two Light Blue Washes along with Pool Made with Paper Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools mark two stages in Hockney’s experimentations regarding the matter. In both lithographs, the stillness of the solid, protruding diving board contrasts with the heavily marked surface of the pool below. Dynamic blue gestures evoke the constant movement of the water and are reminiscent of the bold arcs that Hockney had painted on the bottom of his own backyard pool by 1978. These fluid marks also pay homage to Henri Matisse’s earlier iteration of the same subject: The Swimming Pool (1952). While Matisse includes the occasional swimming figure, Hockney concentrates on the water itself, using shadows, gestures, and ink washes to emulate its undulating surface.

David Hockney, A Bigger Splash, 1967, Tate Britain

Swimming pools became a staple of Hockney’s oeuvre early on in his career. Flying into Los Angeles for the first time in 1963, Hockney looked out of the airplane window and was immediately captivated by the striking blues of the countless swimming pools scattered throughout the city below. Following a move to this ‘promised land’ in 1964, Hockney visually defined Los Angeles through his celebrated pool paintings, including A Bigger Splash (1967) which currently resides in Tate Britain’s permanent collection.

Hockney’s pool paintings of the 1960s exemplify his initial approaches to depicting water, executed almost exclusively in acrylic paint. Yet, in 1978, Hockney embarked on an intense period of experimentation, encouraged by his close friend and master printmaker, Kenneth Tyler.

While staying with Tyler in New York, Hockney produced several editions of swimming pool lithographs in addition to his Paper Pools – unique works made of dyed paper pulp which resulted in a cross between painting, printmaking and paper making. Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book was created to accompany a publication on the Paper Pools series, emphasizing the interconnected nature of Hockney’s swimming pool images, despite the varied media he used.

Attesting to the fruitful and longstanding creative relationship between David Hockney and Ken Tyler, both Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools, and Lithograph of Water Made of Thick and Thin Lines and Two Light Blue Washes were printed by Tyler Graphics Ltd.

Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book

Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book

Year: 1980
Medium: Lithograph printed in colors on Arches Cover mould-made paper
With the accompanying book Paper Pools and its card slipcase
Sheet: 26.7 x 22.9 cm (10 1/2 x 9 inches)
Book: 27.5 x 23.5 x 1.5 cm (10 7/8 x 9 1/4 x 5/8 inches)
Edition: 1,000
Artist’s Proofs: 100 AP
Publisher: Tyler Graphics Ltd., Mount Kisco, New-York
Literature: Tyler Graphics (269), Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (234)

Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil
Book signed in sepia ink and stamp-numbered on the justification

Auction Market Overview

17 prints sold at auction in 2024 for a total turnover of USD 883,662, at an average price of USD 51,980. The highest price so far has been achieved at Christie’s in New-York, on 16 April 2024, when Edition 11/1000 sold for USD 81,900.

11 Prints sold at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of USD 614,004. This compares to 14 prints sold in 2022 for a total turnover of USD 954,552. The highest price was achieved at Phillips in London on 18 January 2023, when one print sold for GBP 81,900 (USD 101,273). However, the average price has substantially decreased in 2023 as compared to 2022.

2025 Auction Results

Forum Auctions: 10 December 2025
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 40,000
GBP 36,000 (Hammer)
GBP 47,292 / USD 63,230

DAVID HOCKNEY (b.1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (MCA Tokyo 234), 1980
from Paper Pools
Lithograph printed in colors on Arches paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered from the edition of 1000
Complete with the accompanying book Paper Pools
Signed in red ink by the artist on the justification
In the original blue cloth-covered boards and with the original card slipcase
Both the book and slipcase stamp numbered from the edition of 1000

Christie’s London: 25 September 2025
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 60,960 / USD 82,015

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool made with paper and blue ink for book, from: Paper Pools (Tokyo 234; Tyler 269), 1980
Lithograph in colours on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 208/1000
(there were also one hundred artist’s proofs)
Complete with the book Paper Pools
Signed in blue ball-point pen on the justification page and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered 208

 

Phillips London: 18 September 2025
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 58,050 / USD 78,950

DAVID HOCKNEY

Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (T.G. 269, M.C.A.T. 234), 1980

Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
With the accompanying book Paper Pools and its card slipcase

Signed, dated and numbered 224/1000 in pencil,
The book signed in sepia ink and stamp-numbered on the justification
The card slipcase stamp-numbered
(there were also 100 artist’s proofs)

Bonhams London: 25 June 2025
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 48,640 / USD 66,635

DAVID HOCKNEY (British, born 1937)

Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (M.C.A. Tokyo 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 233/1000 in pencil
Together with the accompanying book David Hockney: Paper Pools (as issued)
Within the original card slipcase, both stamped numbered 233
The book signed in red ink on the justification page

Christie’s online: 12 June 2025
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 63,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools, 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered 857/1000 (there were also 100 artist’s proofs)
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered 857/1000

Shapiro Auctioneers: 27 May 2025
Estimated: AUD 40,000 – 60,000
AUD 58,000 (Hammer)
AUD 72,500 / USD 46,610

DAVID HOCKNEY (British, b. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools, 1980
Lithograph in colours on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered ‘362/1000’ (there were also 100 artist’s proofs)
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered ‘362/1000’

Phillips New-York: 16 April 2025
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 60,960

Sworders: 15 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 26,000 (Hammer)
GBP 32,500 / USD 42,900

DAVID HOCKNEY (b.1937)
‘Pool Made With Paper and Blue Ink’ for the book ‘Paper Pools’ (MCA Tokyo 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors
Signed and dated ‘Hockney 80’ in pencil l.r.
Numbered ‘681/1000’

Christie’s online: 27 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 26,000 – 28,000
GBP 69,300 / USD 89,397

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool made with paper and blue ink for book, from: Paper Pools (MCAT 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered AP XLlX in pencil
An artist’s proof aside from the numbered edition of 1000
Complete with the book Paper Pools
Signed and dedicated For Mr + Mrs Birtwell. in ink on the justification page
Both the justification page and the original card slipcase numbered A.P. XLlX in pencil

Christie’s New-York: 26 February 2025
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 63,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (MCAT 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 18/1000 (there were also 100 artist’s proofs)
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered 18/1000

2024 Auction Results

17 prints sold at auction in 2024 for a total turnover of USD 883,662, at an average price of USD 51,980. The highest price so far has been achieved at Christie’s in New-York, on 16 April 2024, when Edition 11/1000 sold for USD 81,900.

Heritage Auctions: 10 December 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 50,000
USD 60,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, 1980
Lithograph in colors on wove paper
Editioned 815/1000
Signed, editioned, and dated in pencil along lower edge; publisher’s chop mark lower right

Bonhams London: 10 December 2024
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 48,640 / USD 62,005

Doyle New-York: 31 October 2024
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 40,000
USD 48,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
POOL MADE WITH PAPER AND BLUE INK FOR BOOK (TYLER GRAPHICS 269; M.C.A.T. 234), 1980
Color lithograph on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated and numbered 478/1000 in pencil (aside from 100 artist’s proofs)

Christie’s New-York: 25 October 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 44,100

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered 187⁄1000 (there were also 100 artist’s proofs)

Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2024
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 40,000
USD 48,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (M.C.A.T 234), 1980
Lithograph printed in colors on Arches Cover paper, with the original cloth-covered folder, book, slipcase and box
Sheet: 10 5/8 x 9 inches (26.6 x 22.9 cm)
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 860/1000
The book also signed in blue ink on the colophon and stamp-numbered 860

Bonhams LA: 1 October 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000|
USD40,960

DAVID HOCKNEY (born 1937)

Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (MCAT 234, Tyler 269), 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed in pencil, dated and annotated ‘A.P. IX’
An artist’s proof, aside from the edition of 1,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool made with paper and blue ink for book, from: Paper Pools, 1980
Lithograph in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 206/1000 (there were also one hundred artist’s proofs)
Complete with the book Paper Pools, signed in red ball-point pen on the justification page
And the original card slipcase, both stamp-numbered 206

Sotheby’s online: 25 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 38,400 / USD 51,456

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, 1980
Lithograph printed in colors on Arches Cover mould-made paper
With the accompanying book David Hockney Paper Pools, slipcase and blue paper folder
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 876/1000
The book also signed in ink and stamp-numbered 876

Phillips London: 19 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 40,640 / USD 52,791

Bonhams LA: 25 July 2024
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 40,000
USD 40,960

Christie’s online: 23 July 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 50,400

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools, 1980
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 234; Tyler 269
Lithograph in colors on Arches paper, 1980
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 918/1000 (there were also 100 artist’s proofs)
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools,
Signed in red ball-point pen and stamp-numbered 918 on the justification page
Lacking the original slipcase for the book

Bonhams London: 1 May 2024
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 44,800 / USD 56,000

Christie’s New-York: 16 April 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 81,900

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools, 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 11⁄1000
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools and the original card slipcase, both stamp-numbered 11⁄1000

Phillips New-York: 16 April 2024
Estimated: USD 10,000 – 15,000
USD 48,260

Christie’s online: 21 March 2024
Estimated: EUR 30,000 – 40,000
EUR 47,880 / USD 51,663

Bonhams London: 20 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 35,000
GBP 40,960 / USD 51,937

Phillips London: 17 January 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 40,640 / USD 51,332

2023 Auction Results

11 Prints sold at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of USD 614,004. With two prints unsold, the sell-through rate is 85%.

Christie’s online: 27 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 48,920

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool made with paper and blue ink for book, from: Paper Pools, 1980
Lithograph in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 244/1000

Complete with the book Paper Pools
Signed in red ball-point pen on the justification page and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered 244

Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 38,100 / USD 46,344

DAVID HOCKNEY (b. 1937)
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, 1980
Lithograph printed in colors on Arches Cover mould-made paper
With the accompanying book David Hockney Paper Pools, slipcase and blue paper folder
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 75/1000
The book also signed in ink and stamp-numbered 75

Phillips London: 21 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 50,800

Christie’s online: 19 July 2023
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 47,880

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made of Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools, 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 709/1000

Bonhams London: 27 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 39,680

Doyle New-York: 11 May 2023
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 43,750

Christie’s New-York: 20 April 2023
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 63,000

DAVID HOCKNEY (B. 1937)
Pool Made of Paper and Blue Ink for Book, 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 513/1000
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools
Signed in red ball-point pen on the justification page, and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered 513

Phillips London: 18 January 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 81,900 / USD 101,273

Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (T.G. 269, M.C.A.T. 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors, on Arches Cover paper
With the accompanying book Paper Pools and its card slipcase
Signed, dated and numbered 30/1000 in pencil
The book signed in sepia ink and stamp-numbered on the justification

2022 Auction Results

14 prints sold at auction in 2022 for a total turnover of USD 954,552. With one print unsold, the sell-through rate is 93%.

Bonhams London: 13 December 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 48,180 / USD 59,621

Phillips New-York: 28 October 2022
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 81,900

DAVID HOCKNEY
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (T. 269, M.C.A.T. 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors on Arches Cover paper
Signed, dated and numbered 203/1000 in pencil (there were also 100 artist’s proofs)
Lacking the accompanying book

Ketterer Kunst: 10 June 2022
Estimated: EUR 18,000
EUR 61,250 / USD 64,312

DAVID HOCKNEY
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (T. 269, M.C.A.T. 234), 1980
Lithograph in colors on firm Arches Cover paper
Signed, dated and inscribed A/P XXIV in pencil
One of 100 artist’s proofs from a total edition of 1000

Swann Galleries: 12 May 2022
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 57,500

DAVID HOCKNEY
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book, from Paper Pools (T. 269, M.C.A.T. 234), 1980
Color lithograph on Arches Cover
Signed, dated and numbered 954/1000 in pencil, lower margin

Christie’s New-York: 21 April 2022
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 75,600

Pool Made of Paper and Blue Ink for Book, 1980
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 211⁄1000
Together with the accompanying book Paper Pools and the original card slipcase
Both stamp-numbered 41

Phillips New-York: 21 April 2022
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 75,600

DAVID HOCKNEY
Paper Pools (T. 269, M.C.A.T. 234), 1980
Signed, dated and numbered 454/1000 in pencil

Sotheby’s London: 15 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 44,100

DAVID HOCKNEY
Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (MCA Tokyo 234), 1980
Lithograph printed in colors, with the accompanying book
Signed in pencil, dated, numbered 253/1000
The book also signed in black ink, stamp-numbered 253

Phillips London: 20 January 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 47,880 / USD 65,231