David Hockney, Book Design

In 1968, the then 30-year-old artist David Hockney began a series of seven monumental canvases, each 7 ft by 10 ft. These paintings would consume him for the next seven years and come to define his career. In March 2019 this picture depicting his friend, the influential curator Henry Geldzahler, and his partner Christopher Scott realised more than 37 million at Christie’s. This book was created to send out to potential buyers and as a souvenir for the Barney A. Ebsworth’s estate. The dark blue linen and rose gold foiling on the cover were influenced by the colours and tones of the work. Throughout the chapter titles were printed sideways on acetate so the content of the chapter itself could be seen beneath. This was inspired by the glass table in the painting. The painting sold for over £37.6 million, making it the most expensive by a living artist sold in Europe.