James Cahill's 'The Beverly Hills Housewife' Review: Inside Hockney's LA

A new book by James Cahill, 'The Beverly Hills Housewife', offers a sun-drenched exploration of art, eccentricity, and the spirit of Los Angeles, centered on Betty Freeman, the muse of David Hockney's iconic painting. The book recounts how Hockney, then 29, visited Freeman's house to photograph her swimming pool for his pool paintings. He took preparatory photos of his partner Peter Schlesinger emerging naked from the water, but was intrigued by Freeman's aloof and quietly eccentric demeanor. He asked to photograph her, and she agreed. The resulting painting, 'Beverly Hills Housewife' (1966/7), depicts Freeman standing outside her beautiful house, lit by unbroken sun, with a blond bob and pink dress, surrounded by symbols of mid-century American prosperity, including a Le Corbusier chair. The review, published in The Guardian on August 14, 2026, highlights the book's focus on Freeman's role in the Los Angeles art scene and her patronage. The book is a trip inside Hockney's world, offering insights into the artist's early career and the cultural milieu of 1960s LA.