One of David Hockney’s Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm illustrations, taken from the story of ‘The Little Sea Hare’. This tower was likely inspired by Hockney’s travels through Germany along the Rhine River, an area which is dotted with old castles. The sides of the turret’s tip are windows, converging to a flag-topped spire.
In "The Little Sea Hare", a proud princess with a magical tower and twelve windows demands that suitors must hide from her to win her hand, with death as the penalty if discovered. After ninety-seven suitors are executed, three brothers try their luck. The first two fail, but the youngest requests three attempts. While hunting, he spares a raven, a fish, and a fox. The raven hides him in an egg, the fish swallows him, and the fox turns him into a "sea-hare" and sells him to the princess. While she checks the windows, he hides in her hair. Unable to see him, she throws him away in frustration. The fox restores him, he reveals himself to the princess, and they marry, living happily ever after.
The Princess in her tower (Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm) 1969
Etching and aquatint on W S Hodgkinson paper watermarked "DH" and "PP"
Plate 17.6 x 12.7 in / 44.7 x 32.3 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
- Materials
- Etching and aquatint on W S Hodgkinson paper
- Size
- 17 3/4 × 16 in | 45.1 × 40.6 cm
- Rarity
- Medium
- Slight discoloration on edge of side, right edge, and slight fold along edge on lower left as photographed.
- Signature
- Not signed
- Frame
- Not included
- Series
- Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
- Publisher
- Petersburg Press
The Princess in her tower (Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm), 1969
One of David Hockney’s Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm illustrations, taken from the story of ‘The Little Sea Hare’. This tower was likely inspired by Hockney’s travels through Germany along the Rhine River, an area which is dotted with old castles. The sides of the turret’s tip are windows, converging to a flag-topped spire.
In "The Little Sea Hare", a proud princess with a magical tower and twelve windows demands that suitors must hide from her to win her hand, with death as the penalty if discovered. After ninety-seven suitors are executed, three brothers try their luck. The first two fail, but the youngest requests three attempts. While hunting, he spares a raven, a fish, and a fox. The raven hides him in an egg, the fish swallows him, and the fox turns him into a "sea-hare" and sells him to the princess. While she checks the windows, he hides in her hair. Unable to see him, she throws him away in frustration. The fox restores him, he reveals himself to the princess, and they marry, living happily ever after.
The Princess in her tower (Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm) 1969
Etching and aquatint on W S Hodgkinson paper watermarked "DH" and "PP"
Plate 17.6 x 12.7 in / 44.7 x 32.3 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
- Materials
- Etching and aquatint on W S Hodgkinson paper
- Size
- 17 3/4 × 16 in | 45.1 × 40.6 cm
- Rarity
- Medium
- Slight discoloration on edge of side, right edge, and slight fold along edge on lower left as photographed.
- Signature
- Not signed
- Frame
- Not included
- Series
- Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
- Publisher
- Petersburg Press
