KITAJ, R. B.

R.B.Kitaj ‘Plays for Total Stakes’ Portrait of David Hockney screenprint on canvas

Description

R.B.Kitaj screenprint of a portait of David Hockney with his partner at the time Peter Schlesinger, in profile. Printed by Kelpra Studio, London, 1967. One of the rare 3 artist’s proofs on canvas, aside from the edition of 70 on paper. Some light folds creases on margins else very good.

Size 58 x 58cm  22.75×22.75 in.

Item details

Reference: Kitaj Prints. A Catalogue Raisonné by Ramkalawon 32a; Kinsman 32.

Ramkalawon states that the edition size of signed and numbered copies were 70; some proof’s on canvas.

‘David Hockney, who recalled in 1976 his first meeting with Kitaj:’He was a much more serious student than anybody else there. He has a marvellous dry humour that really appeals, but in those days he was much grimmer than he is now, and he was a rather formidable person. He used to put up a kind of front against people as through he couldn’t tolerate fools’.

‘In 1967 Kitaj took his family to America as ha had been offered a teaching post as a visiting professor at the University of California. He regularly saw Hockney who was also teaching at Berkley, and made a prints of his friend while he was there, ‘Plays for Total Stakes’ which shows Hockney and his boyfriend at the time, Peter Schlesinger, in profile.’

(Quotes above from ‘Kitaj Prints. A Catalogue Raisonné’ by Ramkalawon)