Pat Gilmour's 1970 Review of Young David Hockney's First Retrospective

In 1970, Pat Gilmour reviewed David Hockney's first major retrospective at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, when the artist was only 32. The exhibition assembled over 40 paintings, many drawings, and his entire print output. Gilmour described Hockney's work as largely autobiographical, noting his use of cartoon conventions, childlike naïveté, and inscriptions like 'Cha-cha-cha I love every moment'. She highlighted the etching 'Myself and my Heroes' featuring Gandhi and Walt Whitman, and the successful 'Rake's Progress' about his first visit to America. By the late 1960s, Hockney shifted toward pictorial depth with shadows and vanishing points, exploring interiors, the male nude, glass, water, and portraiture of dealers. Key works include 'Play within a Play' featuring dealer Kasmin, and illustrations for Cavafy's poems, which were compared to Picasso's 'Vollard Suite'. Gilmour praised his graphic work, especially the 'Grimm's Fairy Tales' illustrations with varied techniques. She noted occasional doubts about his drawing but concluded the show marked a high point in his career.