Original lithograph in 5 colors on Somerset satin-finish mould-made rag paper. From "China Diary" limited edition book by David Hockney and Stephen Spender - 1982. Signed, dated, and numbered by hand in pencil: "891/1000 David Hockney '82", lower right. Published by Thames and Hudson Ltd. In excellent condition.

The lithograph is folded 3 times to form 4 panels: (each 9 11/16" x 7 1/8")

Original etching and aquatint in 5 colors on Inveresk mould made paper. Plate 3 from  "The Blue Guitar" a series of 20 etchings from 1976-77. Hand signed by the artist in pencil, "David Hockney," lower right and numbered "161/200," lower left. Impression from an edition of 200 aside from 37 proofs. Proofed by Maurice Payne. Printed by Prawatt Laucharoen, New York. Published by Petersburg Press, 1977. In excellent condition.

Platemark: 13 1/2" x 16 3/4", sheet size:18" x 20 3/4"
Catalogue reference: David Hockney prints 1954-77, 201; Hockney etchings and lithographs, pg. 75

The Blue Guitar's subtitle is etched on the title page by the artist, "Etchings by David Hockney who was inspired by Wallace Stevens who was inspired by Pablo Picasso." While the visual inspiration for these color etchings were works by the master artist Picasso, the literary source for these prints was a long poem by Wallace Stevens. The first etching from this series of 20 is Hockney's version of Picasso's 1903 painting "The Old Guitarist" from his blue period. Other prints from the series freely borrow from Picasso's styles and motifs, as Hockney incorporates his own icons into the images. Even the technique of color etchings is borrowed from the master artist, as it was an original technique conceived by Crommelynck  specifically for  Picasso.