A stunning 44-foot-long print by David Hockney is set to be the centerpiece of Christie's spring prints season in London. This remarkable piece, titled Autour de la maison, été (2019), is estimated to fetch up to £300,000 ($400,000) and is printed on a single sheet of paper. It stands as one of Hockney's largest and most ambitious prints, capturing the vibrant essence of his home and garden in Normandy during the summer months. The artwork features a lush landscape adorned with trees, grass, hedgerows, medieval barns, a swing set, a treehouse, and parked vehicles.
James Baskerville, the international head of Contemporary Edition at Christie's, emphasized the transformative experience this large-scale print offers. He noted, "With Autour de la maison, été, Hockney expands the possibilities of printmaking to an almost cinematic scale. The work invites the viewer to move through the artist's Normandy garden as though reading a continuous pictorial frieze."
Baskerville also drew parallels between the print's narrative structure and the medieval Bayeux Tapestry, highlighting Hockney's ability to tell a story through visual art. This comparison resonates with Hockney's previous project, A Year in Normandie (2020-2021), which is an expansive iPad drawing that spans nearly 300 feet and unfolds as a continuous visual narrative.
The sale of Autour de la maison, été coincides with the opening of a new exhibition of Hockney's work at the Serpentine Gallery in London, as well as the anticipated display of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum. Hockney has expressed concerns about the tapestry's transport, labeling it "madness" and cautioning that the delicate medieval embroidery could suffer irreversible damage.
This extraordinary print will be part of Christie's online Contemporary Edition sale, which will take place from March 17 to 31. It is included in a broader program featuring two seasonal online auctions: Prints and Multiples (March 12 to 25), showcasing works by significant 19th- and 20th-century artists, and Contemporary Edition, which highlights late-20th-century and contemporary prints along with editions from emerging talents. Both auctions will be publicly displayed at Christie's London starting this weekend.
The prominence of Hockney's work underscores the robust performance of the prints market at Christie's. The auction house reported global prints sales reaching $70.3 million in 2025, with its EMEA department contributing $31 million across Old Master, modern, and contemporary prints. Recent record sales include a print by Rembrandt van Rijn, which sold for an impressive $4.1 million, alongside a newly established auction record for a print by William Blake.