Extremely Limited: David Hockney's Arrival Of Spring
Image © Christie's / Winter Timber © David Hockney 2009
David Hockney
654 works
David Hockney’s The Arrival Of Spring marks a pivotal moment in his embrace of digital printmaking, blending technology with his long-standing fascination with nature. Created in 2011 using an iPad and later printed as large-scale digital works, the series captures the Yorkshire landscape’s dramatic transformation across the seasons. The scale of these prints gives them the presence of a painting, offering collectors an alternative to an original while maintaining the accessibility of a print.
The rarity and unconventional edition structure of The Arrival Of Spring collection has cemented its status as one of the most sought-after series in the Contemporary print market. Despite its relatively recent debut on the secondary market, collector demand has been consistently strong. The series consists of at least 60 different interpretations, most in editions of 25, with select works in even rarer editions of just 10. The absence of a catalogue raisonné for Hockney’s prints adds to their intrigue, as tracking which works (especially from this collection) have surfaced at auction - and which remain entirely unseen - requires expert research.
What makes this series particularly fascinating is its medium. Unlike traditional prints such as etchings or lithographs, The Arrival Of Spring is composed of digital prints, lacking the tangible ink application typically associated with printmaking. Yet, despite their modern production process, these works have achieved extraordinary success, proving that Hockney’s innovation and artistic vision continue to captivate collectors at the highest level.
How Does Edition Size Impact Market Value?
The collection is divided into two distinct edition sizes, each shaping demand and value in unique ways. Both editions require a proper investment in framing, a topic explored in our OPEN EDITION live panel: Preserving Value. While the editions of 10 have historically commanded higher values, certain editions of 25 prints are now reaching comparable success.
The Edition of 10 prints (235 x 166 cm) represent the pinnacle of Hockney’s print market - exceptionally rare, highly valued, and rarely seen at auction. To date, only four have been publicly sold, all featuring different seasonal depictions from January to June in a single auction appearance from 2018 to 2024. The highest-selling work, The Arrival Of Spring, 4th May 2011, set the auction record for the series at Phillips in 2022 achieving £396,850 (hammer). Their grand scale and statement-piece appeal continue to drive strong value appreciation. However, exclusivity and high-value brings a degree of unpredictability - the most recent Edition of 10 print to appear at Phillips in September 2024 failed to sell, likely due to broader macroeconomic factors and selective buyer activity.
By contrast, the Edition of 25 prints (140 x 106 cm), while slightly smaller, have developed a more active resale market, with collectors increasingly recognising their liquidity. Several standout prints have demonstrated notable appreciation:
- The Arrival Of Spring, 16th March 2011 has seen three resales, rising from £56,000 in 2018 to £65,000 in 2023.
- The Arrival Of Spring, 17th April 2011 climbed from £24,600 in 2017 to £175,000 in 2022.
- The Arrival Of Spring, 23rd April 2011 surged from £40,000 in 2019 to £140,000 in 2024.
These examples are just a glimpse into the sustained demand and market resilience of these highly sought-after prints. While fluctuations occur, individual preference plays a significant role in shaping desirability within this series. The Arrival of Spring prints vary by season, making subjective appeal a key factor - some collectors gravitate toward the early months, while others prefer the later depictions, drawn to subtle tonal differences such as a pink sky versus a frosty blue. Despite an increasing number of select prints appearing at auction, many works from the collection remain unseen on the secondary market, further solidifying their rarity.
Early Market Entries and Rapid Growth
Since debuting on the secondary market in 2017, The Arrival of Spring prints have quickly gained significant collector demand. The first work from the series to appear at auction, The Arrival Of Spring, 19 May 2011, sold for £24,606 (hammer) at Phillips' Evening & Day Editions Sale in January 2017. Phillips' January editions sales are known for introducing new prints expected to trend throughout the year, and from 2017 to 2019, various works from the collection continued to appear across their dedicated Editions and Prints & Multiples auctions. These sales, held in both live and online formats, typically feature mid-tier works, further expanding the reach and visibility of The Arrival of Spring within the market.
While these prints were already gaining traction, their market status was elevated in 2022 when The Arrival Of Spring, 4 May 2011 was the first print from this collection to be included in an evening sale at Phillips' - marking a turning point in how these works were positioned within the market and setting the highest value for a work from this series, a rare edition of 10 which achieved £396,850 (hammer). At Christie’s, the first six prints from the series were initially featured in Prints & Multiples and Contemporary Editions sales. However, in May 2023, The Arrival Of Spring, 25 February 2011 became the first work from the series to be included in a marquee week sale, Christie’s Post-War & Contemporary Art Day Sale.
The importance of these strategic sales placements cannot be overstated. Not only do they reinforce the rapid growing influence of The Arrival Of Spring collection in the art world, but they also serve as a form of provenance, further validating the significance of these prints.
Rarity and Market Scarcity
Another key factor in this collection’s market is the frequency with which each individual print has surfaced. To date, 59 works from The Arrival Of Spring prints have sold publicly, yet these represent just 29 unique depictions - meaning that over 30 compositions from the series have never been offered at auction. Even within the prints that have sold, repetition remains rare; 16 works have appeared at auction more than once, with the highest frequency being just four appearances for an individual work, The Arrival Of Spring, 23rd April 2011 where each consecutive sale has shown a strong appreciation in value, with this particular work climbing at the hammer from £40,000 in 2019 to £140,000 in 2024. This upward trajectory is reflected across multiple editions, reinforcing the strength of this collection in the market.
The Challenge of Assembling a Complete Set of The Arrival Of Spring Prints
While individual prints from The Arrival Of Spring continue to set record prices, the series presents a unique challenge in the prints and editions market: the near impossibility of assembling a full set. With at least 60 different prints divided between editions of 25 and 10, acquiring every work - let alone with matching edition numbers - remains an unprecedented feat.
The closest attempt at a grouping occurred in 2017, marking the series’ debut on the market. Four works - March 19, March 21, May 16, and May 18 - were offered together at Phillips, with three prints from edition 12 of 25 and the fourth from edition 16 of 25. The set sold for $100,000 (USD), hitting the low estimate with fees. Given that individual prints from this collection now regularly achieve well above $100,000, this purchase appears increasingly lucrative in hindsight.
If the buyer were to consider resale, they would face a critical decision: keep the prints together or sell them individually. Considering the unique nature of this series - along with the logistical challenge of displaying these large-scale works - dealers and auction houses would likely recommend selling them separately, as an individual sale might generate higher returns and attract more buyers. This dynamic further underscores the difficulty of consolidating multiple pieces of a matching edition number at auction. While the prospect of a full set is not impossible, the strong individual value of these works makes it an extraordinary rarity in the current market climate.
The Current Market for Arrival Of Spring Prints
Although the market for these works saw a slight contraction in 2024, the year still marked the highest-ever average value for the series, a clear indicator of sustained collector confidence and long-term market strength.
Discover More In Extremely Limited: David Hockney
In Extremely Limited: David Hockney, MyArtBroker's first collaborative report with ArtTactic, we take a comprehensive, data-driven look at Hockney's originals and prints market. By comparing his Yorkshire landscape paintings with his Arrival Of Spring prints, the report uncovers key market trends shaping the value of his most sought-after works. For unparalleled insights into the market performance of Hockney's Arrival Of Spring print collection, visit ArtTactic.com to download the report and here to receive an exclusive promotional discount.
David Hockney
654 works
