As the world adapts to the stark realities of coronavirus, David Hockney has revealed a new artwork aimed at spreading a positive message. The painting, done on an iPad (as Hockney has been doing for several years) is called Do Remember They Can't Cancel The Spring.
See also: David Hockney: The £70 Million Living Man
A handful of bright yellow daffodils spring from a lawn in the foreground, while a grey forest extends not far behind. The flowers thus impose themselves on the eye of the spectator with all their strength, contrasting with the moody atmosphere of the background. Spring, synonymous with renewal, inspiration and joy, partly finds its symbolism in Greek mythology: it is the period during which Persephone, daughter of Demeter, rises from darkness and frees himself from the grip of Hades in the underworld for a few months. The Earth, symbolised by Demeter, is delighted with the return of her daughter and is once again adorned with colour.
See also: The 10 Most Expensive Living Artists
The British artist is currently confined to Normandy, France, not far from the village of Beuvron-en-Auge, where he moved last September from Los Angeles. His move was exciting for the village, which regularly receives him and his assistant for lunch. The villagers describe him as a "humble and polite" character, who found, in the hushed atmosphere of the countryside, what he wanted above all: tranquility. “Thank goodness for Normandy," he said. "The French know how to live. They know pleasure.”
Last month, one of his masterpieces, The Splash, sold for $23 million at auction. In 2018, his iconic Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), sold at Christie's in November 2018 for over £70 million, making him the then most expensive living artist in the world (before Jeff Koons took his place a few months later).
