For John Constable
- Artist: David Hockney
- Date: 1976
- Medium: Intaglio print on paper
- Dimensions: image: 273 x 346 mm
- Museum: Tate Britain
- Collection record: Tate Britain website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “For John Constable” by David Hockney. Created in 1976, it’s an intaglio print on paper that pays homage to the 19th‑century landscape master John Constable. Hockney, known for his bold, vibrant palette and contemporary take on traditional subjects, uses the print medium to capture the texture and light that Constable celebrated in his canvases. The piece is a thoughtful conversation between two generations of English art, with Hockney’s crisp lines and bright hues echoing Constable’s pastoral scenes.
The print’s size—about 27 by 35 centimeters—makes it intimate, almost book‑like, inviting viewers to examine the details up close. Presented by Bernard Jacobson Gallery, it highlights Hockney’s continued interest in printed forms and his fascination with the history of visual culture. The work sits in the collection’s contemporary wing, offering a striking example of how modern artists can reinterpret classic themes through a modern lens.
See it in person
For John Constable is in the collection of Tate Britain on Millbank, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
