Tim Birch

AS fortune would have it, the rare convergence of creativity and quality lies within reach of Manchester this festive season. For this touring show reveals the arch kook Hockney interpreting the modern classic fairy tales attributed to the Brothers Grimm.

That merging makes sense given Hockneyés odd humour, graphic detail, and ravenous search for content. All of which is evident in the resultant work: 39 etchings drawn directly on copper plates, circa 1969.

They are simple studies, sober and efficient: paying homage to artés history as much as the Grimms. The head of an old cock in éFundevogelé is based on a Leonardo da Vinci; the figures in éRapunzelé are inspired by Breughel, Bosch, and Uccello; and a Carpaccio painting is the source for éThe Boy who left home to learn fear.é Sterling stuff.

Boon

Indeed, these centuries-old, terrific tales of mundane yet marrow-moving folklore are a boon for Hockney éwhoés always invoked academic rigour within his work. So, where éRapunzelé and éRumpelstilzchené promote characters that choose life, despite it éeventually making sense amidst insanity- so Hockney contemporises and naturalises these éfantasiesé to make images that are resonant for us.

All of which suggests that Hockney was a wily old artist, even in the 1969. Nowadays he appears pragmatic, if a little romantic: éThe stories werenét written by the Brothers Grimmé they came across this woman called Catherina Dorothea Viehmann, who told 20 stories to them - they were so moved by them that they wrote them down word for word as she spoke.é

See this exhibition and read the Grimm tales this Christmas.

David Hockney: Grimm's Fairy Tales is at Towneley Hall Art Gallery, Burnley until Sunday, January 5.

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