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From David Hockney’s celebrated Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm portfolio, an image from the story of Rapunzel. Hockney chose to illustrate Rapunzel as it is one of the most famous of the Brothers Grimm stories. Of the first of six Rapunzel etchings, Rapunzel Growing in the Garden, he said: “This is one of the few etchings I did with no references at all. It was completely invented. I just made up the garden. Rapunzel is actually in English called ‘rampion’, which is like a salad leaf you eat. But I couldn’t find a picture of it at all, so it just looks like any old lettuce.” Minimalist lines give shape to the courtyard walls, populated within by a grid of beautifully textured grasses and plants.
The story of ‘Rapunzel’ begins with a couple who long to have a child. When the wife becomes pregnant, she craves a special plant called rapunzel, which her husband steals from a sorceress’s garden. In exchange for the plant, the sorceress demands their baby. The child is named Rapunzel and is taken to live in a tower by the sorceress, who keeps her there, locking her in. Rapunzel’s hair grows incredibly long and she uses it to let people climb up to her tower.
One day, a prince hears Rapunzel’s singing and finds the tower. He learns how to use her hair to climb up and visits her. The sorceress discovers their plan to elope and punishes Rapunzel by banishing her to the wilderness. The prince, blinded by thorns while searching for Rapunzel, eventually finds her again. Rapunzel’s tears have healing powers, restoring his sight. They reunite and live happily ever after.
Rapunzel growing in the garden (Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm) 1969
Etching and aquatint on W S Hodgkinson paper watermarked “DH” and “PP”
Plate 17.3 x 12.9 in / 44 x 32.7 cm
Paper 24.75 x 17.5 in / 62.87 x 44.45 cm
Unique publisher’s copy aside from the edition of 400 books and 100 portfolios
