This 1976 portrait of American actress and writer Brooke (Hayward) Hopper is a paradigm of Hockney’s fascination with representing inspiring people and places of California. Hopper embodied the Old Hollywood era with a contemporary spin; she was a patron of the arts who embraced the innovation of the 1960’s Pop-art movement with open arms. Hockney created this work at Gemini G.E.L., the legendary Los Angeles printmaking studio. 

This striking and elegant lithograph is a remarkable example of Hockney’s technical skills as a draftsman. The image is highly detailed and nuanced as he uses several techniques in shading and crosshatching. He expertly shows the delicate wisps of her hair, billowing fabric of her dress and dimension of the room where she sits.