David Hockney Prints With Exceptional Provenance

For original paintings, provenance often includes records from esteemed private collections, notable exhibitions, and previous sales. These elements enhance an artwork’s desirability, not only by verifying its authenticity but also by contributing to the narrative surrounding its history. In today’s art market, where collectors approach acquisitions with increasing caution, provenance has become more than just a detail - it is a marker of exclusivity and prestige. Buyers are not just searching for any David Hockney Yorkshire landscape or swimming pool painting; they are seeking the definitive example, with a story and rarity that sets it apart.

The Two Types of Provenance That Drive High-Value Works

Provenance-driven value typically falls into two categories. First, there are works that have remained hidden from public view for decades, making their sudden reappearance at auction a monumental event. Second, there are works with a rich, storied ownership history - pieces that have passed through carefully curated private collections, sometimes tied to celebrity figures or influential patrons. These collections, which top auction houses compete for year after year, add an intimate, historical dimension to an artwork’s value. Collectors want to own a piece that was once displayed in an exclusive home, admired by the cultural elite, or exhibited in a prestigious museum before entering the market for the first time.

David Hockney’s Most Significant Provenance-Driven Sales

Take, for example, two standout Hockney originals that surfaced recently at auction. California (1965), a rare and highly anticipated swimming pool painting, made its first-ever auction appearance at Christie’s March 2024 sale. Depicting two figures floating in Hockney’s signature undulating blue water, the painting had been acquired by a private collector in 1968 and remained unseen by the public for over five decades. Its only recent exposure had been a digital presentation in David Hockney: Bigger & Closer at London’s Lightroom in 2023. This kind of scarcity and exclusivity made California one of the most anticipated sales of the year, ultimately fetching £18.7 million.

By contrast, A Lawn Being Sprinkled (1967) carried a different but equally powerful provenance. This work passed through several galleries, including one of Hockney’s key representatives, the L.A. Louver in Venice, California, before being acquired by a private collector in 1978. Unlike California, this work boasted an extensive exhibition history, having been displayed at Tate Britain in London, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and The Met in New York as part of a major Hockney retrospective from 2017–2018. Having been widely admired, in excellent condition, and now ready for new ownership, it sold for £22.5 million. Both examples illustrate how provenance - whether through scarcity or exhibition history - can define an artwork’s desirability and market performance.

Private Collection Provenance: The Mica Ertegun Sale

Another compelling example of provenance-driven sales came in the autumn auctions of 2024, when Christie’s presented The Collection of Mica Ertegun. A celebrated interior designer and philanthropist, Ertegun was known for her impeccable taste and deep contributions to Contemporary art. As the co-founder of MAC II, her design firm was instrumental in shaping modern aesthetics, and her personal art collection reflected that same discerning eye. To own a piece from her collection was to own a piece of that prestige.

Among the highlights was Hockney’s Still Life on a Glass Table (1971), a masterful still life composition featuring a delicate interplay of light, colour, and reflection. Set against a peach-pink backdrop, the arrangement of flowers and objects on the glass table radiated elegance - a perfect reflection of Ertegun’s refined sensibility. Acquired by her in 1975, this work carried an additional layer of desirability due to its distinguished ownership history. When it finally entered the secondary market for the first time, it achieved £15.3 million, proving once again how provenance elevates an artwork’s standing.

While provenance has long been a key factor in valuing paintings, its role in the print market is evolving. Historically, prints have not been tied to individual ownership as significantly as paintings, given their multiple editions. However, as the appreciation for prints continues to grow, so does the importance of provenance in this sector. Far from a peripheral detail, the publisher often serves as the initial and most authoritative source of a print’s legitimacy. Whether the publisher collaborated directly with the artist, managed the production process, or ensured the quality of materials used, these factors play a pivotal role in establishing a print’s historical and market value. As collectors become more discerning, attention to the publishing history has become essential in navigating the evolving landscape of the print market.

The Role of Authentication and Certificates in Print Provenance

This shift was a key topic in our recent Open Edition panel discussion on Market Insights: Navigating the Landscape on Blue Chip Prints, where experts examined the nuances of provenance in the print world. Unlike paintings - where a comprehensive ownership record to ensure authenticity and history of the work is crucial - prints raise a different set of questions: Where was it purchased? Was it part of a complete set? Who handled its production? This leads directly into the issue of certificates of authenticity (COA), as not every print comes with one. As demand for prints continues to rise, questions of authenticity, provenance, and certification will play an increasingly critical role in how they are valued and traded.

How does the conversation change when considering the role of provenance in prints? A review of auction archives shows that prints with provenance tied to esteemed collectors or institutions are relatively uncommon. However, a notable exception occurred in April 2023, when Christie’s presented The Sale of the Century: An Important Corporate Collection of Prints and Multiples. Featuring nearly 400 prints and multiples from the most sought-after blue chip artists, the sale was a resounding success and contributed to the broader momentum of the print market. While the prestige of the corporate collection likely played a role, what proved even more compelling was the presentation - complete sets and individual prints from the most established blue chip names were curated into a cohesive narrative, much like the strategy behind private collection sales at auction.

Celebrity Ownership and Its Limited Impact on Print Market Value

Another frequently discussed layer of provenance in the art market is celebrity ownership. In the world of paintings, a high-profile previous owner can significantly boost value. But in the prints market, that influence has yet to fully take hold. A notable test case came in July 2024, when Bonhams’ Modern Design Auction in Los Angeles featured 35 works from actor Jim Carrey’s personal collection, including an artist’s proof of Hockney’s Pool Made with Paper and Blue Ink for Book (1980). Despite the celebrity association, the print sold for $40,960 - just meeting its high estimate with fees.

In contrast, a separate edition of the same print achieved £69,300 in Christie's March 2025 online print sale - the highest price for that work in recent years - with no celebrity provenance attached. This highlights a key difference: while celebrity ownership can add a premium in the paintings market, prints tend to be valued more for their rarity, condition, and historical context.

The Role of Print Publishers in Establishing Provenance

Verifying the print publisher is a key step in establishing the provenance of a print. Hockney’s print market offers a compelling example of how an artist’s choice of studio can determine the authenticity and shape the value of their editions. Known for his inventive and wide-ranging approach to printmaking, Hockney has collaborated with some of the most esteemed publishers in the field - most notably Tyler Graphics and Gemini G.E.L.

Founded in 1974 by master printmaker Kenneth E. Tyler, Tyler Graphics quickly established itself as a leading force in contemporary printmaking, collaborating with many of the most influential artists of the era. Prior to that, Tyler had co-founded Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles in 1966, a workshop that would become a cornerstone of American printmaking. Hockney’s long-standing relationships with both studios played a pivotal role in the development of his print practice and were central to the creation of some of his most celebrated editions. These collaborations were deeply intertwined with the periods Hockney spent in Los Angeles, giving rise to his now-iconic swimming pool imagery - including his Paper Pools series.

As printing techniques have evolved, so too has the role of the publisher. In more recent years, Hockney’s shift toward digital media - particularly his iPad works - has seen him take on the role of publisher himself. The Arrival of Spring collection reflects a more self-directed approach, where the artist controls both creation and distribution. Both the historically significant collaborations and these newer self-published series are explored in depth in our Hockney Market Report, produced in partnership with ArtTactic.

Just like with original works, provenance in the print market plays a key role in determining authenticity - including whether a piece was produced in collaboration with a master printmaker or published directly by the artist. In either case, provenance typically traces back to the publisher, and understanding these distinctions is especially important for new buyers entering the art market. Offering guidance on these nuances - from authentication to market trends - is essential for fostering informed participation and opens the door to broader opportunities for diversification across mediums, price points, and collecting strategies.