‘His last kiss to the world’: David Hockney’s return to Yorkshire triggered a glorious reawakening

David Hockney's return to Yorkshire from Los Angeles, initially perceived as a retirement, has instead heralded a significant new phase in his artistic career, marked by a prolific output of new works. This reawakening was celebrated at the Fondation Louis Vuitton's "David Hockney 25" exhibition in Paris last April, which showcased his extensive career with a particular focus on his 21st-century creations. The exhibition emphasized the quality of his later works, including iPad paintings of his Normandy garden and depictions of Yorkshire landscapes, drawing parallels to his iconic early pieces like swimming pools and portraits. Critics noted the seamless transition from the light of his Californian and London periods to the vibrant scenes of the Yorkshire countryside, asserting the equal or even superior merit of his recent art. The exhibition's curation, undertaken with Hockney's close collaboration, aimed to present a cohesive narrative of his artistic evolution, demonstrating the enduring power and relevance of his vision across different decades and settings.