Bedlam
Bedlam
Signed Print
David Hockney
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Medium: Etching
Edition size: 50
Year: 1963
Size: H 30cm x W 40cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Meaning & Analysis
Hockney’s Bedlam is the final plate in the series, A Rake’s Progress, and is a powerful vision of institutionalisation. Published as an edition of 50 in 1963, the work was made between 1961 and 1962 following the artist’s first visit to New York while he was still studying at the Royal College of Art.
This print is part of Hockney’s homage to William Hogarth and loose documentation of his first visit to New York in 1961. Here we are presented with the culmination of the story told throughout the prints. The figure in the radio t-shirt from the print before, Meeting The Other People, has been replicated to become five men standing in a row with their backs to us.
Each is wearing a headphone on their right side from which music is playing. They face a wall emblazoned with the word ‘Bedlam’ in bright red capital letters. While Hockney’s version often strayed from Hogarth’s subject matter, here they converge again, albeit in entirely different ways. Hogarth’s protagonist, Tom Rakewell also ends up in a mental institution, however the 18th century artist’s take on the scene is highly detailed and follows the linear narrative that runs throughout the series. Hockney instead takes a more abstract approach to both subject and style, presenting fragmented scenes and spare compositions, often relying on large areas of black ink and clouds of red to convey a sense of foreboding and misfortune.
While not as straightforward to read, these images are powerful in the sense of unease they evoke in the viewer who is left with misgivings about life in modern America.
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.
