‘He outlived four of his doctors’: what was behind David Hockney’s lifelong love of smoking?

Artist David Hockney died this week at the age of 88, with his lifelong habit of smoking prominently featured in his later work, including his 2025 Paris retrospective. One of his final self-portraits, titled "Play within a Play within a Play and Me with a Cigarette," depicted him holding both a paintbrush and a cigarette, a motif he continued to explore. This particular painting led to a conflict with the Paris Metro authorities, who initially prohibited its use in advertising the exhibition. They cited regulations against glamorizing smoking, a decision Hockney publicly criticized as a "dismal" restriction on artistic freedom and a sign of overbearing authority.

Hockney's relationship with smoking was a recurring theme, prompting speculation about its significance, with some suggesting it served as a social crutch or even a Freudian response to his father. He was known to take delight in writing to The Guardian about his experiences, including his disputes over smoking. The artist's persistence with his habit is noted, with the article suggesting he "gave it his best shot" in continuing to smoke despite its health implications, outliving four of his doctors.

The article explores the multifaceted nature of Hockney's passion for smoking, questioning its origins and its role in his life and art. His final self-portrait, created in 2025, visually encapsulates this enduring theme, presenting a "Droste effect" where the artist is depicted holding images of himself, each time with a cigarette. This visual representation underscores the deep integration of smoking into his personal and artistic identity throughout his career.