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Celia Inquiring - Signed Print by David Hockney 1979 - MyArtBroker

Celia Inquiring
Signed Print

David Hockney

£18,000-£26,000Value Indicator

$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator

$30,000-$45,000 Value Indicator

¥170,000-¥240,000 Value Indicator

22,000-30,000 Value Indicator

$180,000-$260,000 Value Indicator

¥3,400,000-¥4,910,000 Value Indicator

$23,000-$35,000 Value Indicator

8% AAGR

AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.

There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.

Medium: Lithograph

Edition size: 78

Year: 1979

Size: H 103cm x W 76cm

Signed: Yes

Format: Signed Print

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Track auction value trend

The value of David Hockney's Celia Inquiring (signed) is estimated to be worth between £18,000 and £26,000. This lithograph print, created in 1979, has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 8%. This work has an auction history of seven total sales since its entry to the market in May 2008. In the past 12 months, the hammer price has ranged from £10,218 in April 2021 to £15,935 in October 2021. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 78.

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Auction Results

Auction DateAuction HouseLocation
Hammer Price
Return to Seller
Buyer Paid
October 2021Phillips New York United States
April 2021Sotheby's Paris France
March 2019Sotheby's Online United Kingdom
September 2018Christie's London United Kingdom
October 2013Christie's New York United States
May 2013Christie's New York United States
May 2008Sotheby's New York United States

Meaning & Analysis

As with Celia Elegant, this portrait shows the textile designer artfully posed in an antique chair. With her head turned away from the viewer she appears to be mid conversation, or as the title suggests, inquiring about something to someone out of shot. The pose allows Hockney to demonstrate his skill at capturing figures at ease; Birtwell's slight twist of the body and joined knees create a beautiful contraposto effect that lends dynamism to the composition. Outlined in watery brushstrokes, the elegant lines of her curls and her legs are emphasised by the drapery of her dress and the curves of the chair. This is one of seven portraits of Birtwell in the series which is notable for including just one portrait of a man. In contrast with earlier series such as Friends, this portfolio presents us with portraits of Hockney’s closest female friends, Celia Birtwell and Ann Upton, in a loose style that recalls the work of Matisse and Toulouse Lautrec combined with an intimacy that seems to reference Degas’ paintings and sketches of women in interiors. Here we find the sitter completely at ease in the artist’s presence, reflecting the bond the two shared. Speaking of his love for Celia as both friend and sitter, Hockney said, ‘[she] has a beautiful face, a very rare face with lots of things in it which appeal to me. It shows aspects of her, like her intuitive knowledge and her kindness, which I think is the greatest virtue. To me she’s such a special person.”

  • British-born artist David Hockney is a kaleidoscopic force in the art world. Born in 1937, Hockney's vibrant palette and innovative techniques have left an indelible mark on contemporary art. A pioneer of the British Pop Art movement in the 1960s, he seamlessly transitioned through various styles, from photo collages to vivid landscapes. Renowned for his exploration of light and space, Hockney's versatility extends to painting, printmaking, photography, and stage design. A captivating storyteller, his works often capture the essence of modern life with a playful yet profound touch. With a career spanning decades, Hockney remains an enduring visionary in the ever-evolving art world.

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