Signed, dated and numbered in red crayon. On Okawara Japan paper.

Before they met at a Hollywood dinner party in the early 1970s and became close friends, Wilder had been a collector of Hockney’s artworks. In this print, the famous director’s pose is relaxed, bringing attention to the casual context, which inspired the portrait. Wilder’s index finger is placed on the script page, which, coupled with the gaze that directly confronts the viewer, endows his demeanour with a dimension of candour. The man looks like he was captured casually during a conversation, which brings the portrait closer to the lifelike dynamics. Two pencils, pens, and filmmaking equipment are seen on the table standing next to the director, making the viewer feel that they are given a glimpse into the intimate, backstage setting. As an artist reluctant towards commissioned portraits throughout his career, Hockney sought to capture something intimate about the personality of his sitters.