David Hockney's extensive printmaking career spans more than six decades and includes etchings, lithographs, screenprints, handmade paper works and later digital editions. Because his graphic work was produced across many periods, publishers and print workshops, collectors rely on several recognized catalogues and workshop references when identifying and researching individual Hockney prints.
These references can help confirm a work's title, date, medium, dimensions, edition size, printer, publisher and other publication details, making them important tools for collectors, dealers, museums and auction houses researching original David Hockney prints.
There is no single catalogue raisonné covering every David Hockney print. Instead, collectors generally rely on the 1979 Scottish Arts Council catalogue, the 1996 Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo/Tankosha catalogue, and workshop-specific catalogues from Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics.
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David Hockney Print Catalogue Raisonné References at a Glance
Several catalogue raisonnés and workshop archives are used to identify and document original David Hockney prints. The appropriate reference depends on the date of the work, printer, publisher, and series.
| Reference | Coverage | Common Citation | Best Used For |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Hockney Foundation Online Catalogue | Prints, 1954–2015 | David Hockney Foundation online entry | Current research across Hockney’s printmaking career |
| David Hockney Prints 1954–77 | 218 prints through 1977 | Scottish Arts Council (SAC) no. ___ | Early etchings, lithographs, portfolios, The Blue Guitar and other early editions |
| David Hockney Prints 1954–1995 | 373 prints through 1995 | Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo / Tokyo no. ___ | Broad Hockney-specific reference for lithographs, etchings, screenprints, handmade and digital prints |
| Tyler Graphics: Catalogue Raisonné, 1974–1985 | Tyler Graphics editions, 1974–1985 | Tyler no. ___ | Paper Pools, Moving Focus and other Hockney–Kenneth Tyler collaborations |
| Tyler Graphics: Catalogue Raisonné, 1986–2001 | Tyler Graphics editions, 1986–2001 | Tyler catalogue reference | Later works produced through Tyler Graphics |
| Gemini G.E.L. Online Catalogue Raisonné | Hockney editions published by Gemini G.E.L. | Gemini G.E.L. / NGA no. ___ | Gemini-published lithographs and other editions |
The Scottish Arts Council catalogue, published in 1979, documents 218 prints from Hockney’s early graphic career. The later Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo catalogue, published with Tankosha in 1996, expands coverage to 373 works through 1995. Workshop-specific references from Tyler Graphics and Gemini G.E.L. provide additional production and edition information for works created with those important printers and publishers.
1. Is There a David Hockney Catalogue Raisonné for Prints?
There is no single print catalogue that documents every David Hockney edition from his entire career.
Instead, several important catalogues cover different periods of Hockney's graphic production. Two of the principal references are:
- David Hockney Prints 1954–77
- David Hockney Prints 1954–1995
Workshop catalogues and records from publishers such as Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics can provide additional information for particular editions and series.
Collectors should therefore identify which reference is appropriate for the specific Hockney print they are researching.
2. David Hockney Prints 1954–77
Published by the Scottish Arts Council in 1979, David Hockney Prints 1954–77 documents 218 prints from the first two decades of Hockney’s printmaking career.
The catalogue documents Hockney's early graphic work through 1977 and remains an important reference for prints from the first decades of his career.
Catalogue entries provide information such as:
- Title
- Date
- Medium
- Dimensions
- Edition information
- Printer
- Publisher
Auction houses frequently cite this reference using the abbreviation Scottish Arts Council, often followed by the catalogue number.
For example:
Scottish Arts Council 110
indicates that the print corresponds with entry 110 in the catalogue.
3. David Hockney Prints 1954–1995
David Hockney Prints 1954–1995 was published in 1996 in connection with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. The catalogue reproduces and documents 373 Hockney prints produced between 1954 and 1995.
This later reference significantly expands the documented range of Hockney's printmaking and includes works produced through 1995.
The publication may be cited as Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo, or Tankosha 1996, depending on the institution or auction house.
For example, the National Gallery of Art identifies Hockney's The Master Printer of Los Angeles as Tankosha 1996, no. 139, while Celia—Weary is recorded as Tankosha 1996, no. 221.
This catalogue is particularly useful for later editions not covered by the earlier Scottish Arts Council publication.
4. Gemini G.E.L. Online Catalogue Raisonné References
The National Gallery of Art maintains the Gemini G.E.L. Online Catalogue Raisonné, which records workshop-specific information for many Hockney editions produced with Gemini.
David Hockney produced important editions with Gemini G.E.L., making the workshop’s records an important supplementary reference for many Hockney prints.
The National Gallery of Art often records both the Hockney catalogue reference and corresponding Gemini G.E.L. workshop information, providing a more complete picture of the edition, including publisher, printer, paper, proof structure and workshop markings.
5. Tyler Graphics Catalogue Raisonné References
Hockney also worked closely with master printer Kenneth Tyler and Tyler David Hockney’s collaborations with master printer Kenneth E. Tyler produced some of the most technically ambitious works of his printmaking career. For these editions, the Tyler Graphics catalogue raisonnés provide important workshop-specific references in addition to Hockney’s broader print catalogues.
Tyler Graphics: Catalogue Raisonné, 1974–1985
Kenneth E. Tyler’s Tyler Graphics: Catalogue Raisonné, 1974–1985, published in 1987, documents editions produced during the first major period of Tyler Graphics.
For Hockney collectors, this catalogue is particularly important for works including the Paper Pools, Moving Focus, and other Tyler collaborations. Auction houses frequently cite a Tyler Graphics catalogue number alongside the corresponding Hockney catalogue raisonné reference, providing additional confirmation of the edition and its production history.
Tyler Graphics: Catalogue Raisonné, 1986–2001
Published by the National Gallery of Australia in 2025, Tyler Graphics: Catalogue Raisonné, 1986–2001 documents the final period of Kenneth Tyler’s celebrated print workshop.
Edited by Jane Kinsman, the three-volume publication contains approximately 1,100 pages and 1,040 catalogue entries covering works by 28 artists. It records detailed information on printing methods, colors, presses, materials, and production processes, making it an important new scholarly resource for researching later Tyler Graphics editions.
Together, the two Tyler Graphics catalogue raisonnés provide collectors with specialized documentation for Hockney works created through one of the most important print workshops of the twentieth century.
6. Why Can a David Hockney Print Have More Than One Catalogue Number?
A David Hockney print may appear in both a general Hockney print catalogue and a workshop-specific catalogue raisonné. For example, the same work may have a Tokyo/Tankosha catalogue number and a Tyler Graphics reference, or a Tankosha number together with a Gemini G.E.L. reference.
These different numbers are not contradictions. They identify the same work within separate scholarly or workshop cataloguing systems, each of which may provide different information about the edition, printer, publisher, materials, proofs, or production history.
For collectors, multiple catalogue references can actually strengthen documentation by connecting the work to both Hockney’s overall printmaking career and the records of the workshop that produced it.
7. What Can a David Hockney Print Catalogue Reference Confirm?
A recognized catalogue reference can help establish whether the characteristics of a print correspond with a documented edition.
Depending on the reference, information may include:
- Title and date
- Printing technique
- Paper
- Image and sheet dimensions
- Edition size
- Artist's proofs and other proofs
- Printer
- Publisher
- Series or portfolio
- Workshop markings
This information is particularly useful when comparing a physical print with documented examples of the same edition.
8. Does a Catalogue Raisonné Reference Prove Authenticity?
No.
A catalogue reference documents an edition. It does not independently authenticate the physical artwork being examined.
For example, knowing that a particular Hockney print corresponds with Scottish Arts Council 110 or Tokyo 107 establishes the specifications of that documented edition. The actual print should still be examined to determine whether its medium, dimensions, paper, signature, numbering, printer or publisher and other characteristics correspond with that entry.
For a broader discussion, see How to Authenticate a David Hockney Print →
9. How Auction Houses Use Hockney Print References
Major auction houses frequently cite multiple Hockney references in their catalogue descriptions, such as Scottish Arts Council 110; Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 107.
For example, Sotheby's has catalogued Hockney's Lithographic Water Made of Lines, Crayon and Two Blue Washes using both Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo no. 209 and Tyler Graphics no. 252.
These references identify the documented edition, while the individual impression must still be evaluated separately for signature, numbering, paper, condition, provenance and other physical characteristics.
What to Record When Researching a David Hockney Print
When researching a David Hockney print, record:
- Full title
- Date
- Catalogue reference number
- Medium
- Dimensions
- Edition number and edition size
- Proof designation, if applicable
- Printer
- Publisher
- Paper
- Blindstamps or workshop markings
- Provenance
Keeping this information together makes it much easier to compare the work with museum, auction and publisher records.
Buying a Documented David Hockney Print
Before purchasing a David Hockney print, collectors should identify the appropriate catalogue references and confirm that the physical characteristics of the work correspond with the documented edition.
Masterworks Fine Art researches the appropriate catalogue and workshop references for the original Hockney prints it offers and provides relevant documentation with the artwork when available.
Explore David Hockney Prints for Sale →
Researching or Selling a David Hockney Print
If you own a David Hockney print, catalogue references can help identify the exact edition before evaluating its authenticity, condition and current market value.
Request a Confidential Evaluation of Your David Hockney Print →
Frequently Asked Questions About David Hockney Print Catalogues
Is there a David Hockney catalogue raisonné for prints?
There is no single volume documenting every David Hockney print from his entire career. Collectors commonly use several important references, including David Hockney Prints 1954–77, David Hockney Prints 1954–1995, and workshop-specific documentation from publishers such as Gemini G.E.L. and Tyler Graphics.
Why does my David Hockney print have two different catalogue numbers?
A David Hockney print can have more than one catalogue number because it may be documented in both a general Hockney print catalogue and a workshop-specific catalogue raisonné. For example, the same work may carry a Tokyo/Tankosha number as well as a Tyler Graphics or Gemini G.E.L. reference. These numbers identify the same work within different cataloguing systems.
Where can I look up a David Hockney catalogue raisonné number?
David Hockney catalogue raisonné numbers can be researched through references such as David Hockney Prints 1954–77, David Hockney Prints 1954–1995, the Tyler Graphics catalogues, the Gemini G.E.L. Online Catalogue Raisonné, and the David Hockney Foundation’s online catalogue. The correct source depends on the date, printer, publisher, and series of the work.
What is the Scottish Arts Council number on a David Hockney print?
A Scottish Arts Council number refers to the catalogue entry in David Hockney Prints 1954–77, published in 1979. Auction houses and dealers frequently cite this reference when cataloguing Hockney prints produced during the period covered by the publication.
What is the Tokyo or Museum of Contemporary Art reference for David Hockney prints?
The reference generally refers to David Hockney Prints 1954–1995, published in 1996 in connection with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. Museums may also cite the publication as Tankosha 1996 followed by the catalogue number.
What information does a Hockney catalogue reference provide?
Depending on the publication, a catalogue entry may document the title, date, medium, dimensions, edition size, printer, publisher and other information associated with a particular Hockney edition.
Does a catalogue raisonné number prove a David Hockney print is authentic?
No. A catalogue number identifies a documented edition but does not independently authenticate the physical print. The artwork should still correspond with the documented medium, dimensions, paper, signature, numbering, printer or publisher and other characteristics of the edition.
Learn more: How to Authenticate a David Hockney Print →
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