An auction dedicated to the Yorkshire, UK, artist David Hockney is taking place in London on February 17.
Aged 74, Hockney is something of an art renaissance man, boasting notable achievements in a number of professions including as a painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer and photographer.
Today, since he first rose to prominence during the 1960s Pop Art era, Hockney is considered one of the 20th century's most influential British artists.
Among the auction's big highlights is this Self-portrait, dated to 1954 and rendered as a lithograph in colours. It bears the signature "David H" alongside the inscription "For Mr Maddox" in ink.
 David Hockney's Self-portrait art lithograph dates to 1954 |
The work is a rare proof of Hockney's yellow, grey and black version of this work (according to records, he produced five differing versions in various colours).
It was printed by the artist himself and was actually Hockney's first lithograph, number one in an edition of five, made while the artist was still a starving student.
Self-portrait will appeal alongside more than two dozen rare early pieces from the artist's canon.
This sale, organised by Christie's, coincides with a Hockney show at the Royal Academy in London, which suggests something of a Hockney resurgence in 2012.
Watch this space for more news from the sale.
