See David Hockney’s odd and lovely illustrations for his favorite Brothers Grimm fairy tales.
Article excerpt
David Hockney, the British artist who died last week at 88, created a series of illustrations for Brothers Grimm fairy tales that showcase his distinctive style alongside the dark European folklore. The paintings blend Hockney's signature vibrant palette and playful sensibility with the grimmer elements of classic tales like "Hansel and Gretel" and "Little Red Riding Hood." These works reveal how the beloved painter, celebrated for his innovative techniques and joyful irreverence, brought his characteristic visual language to literary classics, demonstrating his range beyond the landscapes and swimming pools he's most famous for. The illustrations offer a window into Hockney's reading life and artistic interests beyond his primary body of work.
The beloved British artist David Hockney, who died last week at the age of 88, is celebrated for his vibrant paintings, his innovative techniques, and his joyful kookiness. He also, like many visionaries and other people who know what’s good for them, loved fairy tales.
In 1969, Hockney created 39 etchings based on six of his favorite stories by the Brothers Grimm: “The Little Sea Hare,” “Fundevogel,” “Rapunzel,” “The Boy who left Home to learn Fear,” “Old Rinkrank,” and “Rumpelstilzchen.”
“They’re fascinating, the little stories,” Hockney said, “told in a very very simple, direct, straightforward language and style, it was this simplicity that attracted me. They cover quite a strange range of experience, from the magical to the moral.” Hockney’s etchings are fascinating too: weird, irreverent, and expressive, but in a minimalist black and white. “My choice of stories was occasionally influenced by how I might illustrate them,” Hockney added. “I included other stories simply because they were strange.”
The etchings were collected in Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm with Illustrations by David Hockney, published in 1970 by London’s Petersburg Press. Here are just a few favorites:
David Hockney, “A Black Cat Leaping,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr.jpg" class="size-full wp-image-273031" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "A Black Cat Leaping," 1969" width="1000" height="854" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr.jpg 1000w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr-300x256.jpg 300w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr-768x656.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr-60x51.jpg 60w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WpyWKZuf9dEaEuAvUcFFDtPcE7xjAU3Y09RJmzEr-50x43.jpg 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> David Hockney, “A Black Cat Leaping,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”) David Hockney, “The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost.jpg" class="size-full wp-image-273040" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost," 1969 (from "The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear")" width="1000" height="851" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost.jpg 1000w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost-300x255.jpg 300w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost-768x654.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost-60x51.jpg 60w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sextonghost-50x43.jpg 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> David Hockney, “The Sexton Disguised as a Ghost,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”) David Hockney, “Inside the Castle,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy.jpg" class="size-full wp-image-273041" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "Inside the Castle," 1969 (from "The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear")" width="1000" height="964" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy.jpg 1000w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy-300x289.jpg 300w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy-768x740.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy-60x58.jpg 60w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/theboy-50x48.jpg 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> David Hockney, “Inside the Castle,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”) David Hockney, “Cold Water About to Hit the Prince,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-768x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-273042" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-768x1024.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "Cold Water About to Hit the Prince," 1969 (from "The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear")" width="768" height="1024" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-225x300.jpg 225w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-45x60.jpg 45w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater-37x50.jpg 37w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/coldwater.jpg 1300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /> David Hockney, “Cold Water About to Hit the Prince,” 1969 (from “The Boy Who Left Home to Learn Fear”) David Hockney, “The Boy Hidden in an Egg,” 1969 (from “The Little Sea Hare”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-890x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-273033" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-890x1024.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Boy Hidden in an Egg," 1969 (from "The Little Sea Hare")" width="890" height="1024" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-890x1024.jpg 890w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-261x300.jpg 261w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-768x884.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-52x60.jpg 52w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp-43x50.jpg 43w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7LT1VHiqR077kPftay2OTLtg8mI8zOdY5uHl7HXp.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px" /> David Hockney, “The Boy Hidden in an Egg,” 1969 (from “The Little Sea Hare”) David Hockney, “The Princess in Her Tower,” 1969 (from “The Little Sea Hare”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-729x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-273035" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-729x1024.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Princess in Her Tower," 1969 (from "The Little Sea Hare")" width="729" height="1024" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-729x1024.jpg 729w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-214x300.jpg 214w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-768x1078.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-43x60.jpg 43w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-1094x1536.jpg 1094w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7-36x50.jpg 36w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/UuHFMiMXr3Rlws3nuTasMc3wglO8aJv3WsBN4SE7.jpg 1300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 729px) 100vw, 729px" /> David Hockney, “The Princess in Her Tower,” 1969 (from “The Little Sea Hare”) David Hockney, “A Room Full of Straw,” 1969 (from “Rumpelstilzchen”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-920x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-273043" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-920x1024.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "A Room Full of Straw," 1969 (from "Rumpelstilzchen")" width="920" height="1024" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-920x1024.jpg 920w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-270x300.jpg 270w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-768x855.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-54x60.jpg 54w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw-45x50.jpg 45w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/straw.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 920px) 100vw, 920px" /> David Hockney, “A Room Full of Straw,” 1969 (from “Rumpelstilzchen”) David Hockney, “The Cook,” 1969 (from “Fundevogel”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook.jpg" class="size-full wp-image-273044" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Cook," 1969 (from "Fundevogel")" width="1000" height="936" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook.jpg 1000w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook-300x281.jpg 300w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook-768x719.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook-60x56.jpg 60w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cook-50x47.jpg 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> David Hockney, “The Cook,” 1969 (from “Fundevogel”) David Hockney, “The Enchantress with the Baby Rapunzel” 1969 (from “Rapunzel”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-881x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-273036" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-881x1024.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Enchantress with the Baby Rapunzel" 1969 (from "Rapunzel")" width="881" height="1024" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-881x1024.jpg 881w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-258x300.jpg 258w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-768x892.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-52x60.jpg 52w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl-43x50.jpg 43w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/9mAjHO63DkobTFOsucqP0BfuRvpCpMlDmPlm5Ghl.jpg 1000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 881px) 100vw, 881px" /> David Hockney, “The Enchantress with the Baby Rapunzel,” 1969 (from “Rapunzel”) David Hockney, “The Tower Had One Window,” 1969 (from “Rapunzel”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-528x1024.jpg" class="size-large wp-image-273039" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-528x1024.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Tower Had One Window," 1969 (from "Rapunzel")" width="528" height="1024" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-528x1024.jpg 528w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-155x300.jpg 155w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-768x1488.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-31x60.jpg 31w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-793x1536.jpg 793w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-1057x2048.jpg 1057w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower-26x50.jpg 26w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/tower.jpg 1300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px" /> David Hockney, “The Tower Had One Window,” 1969 (from “Rapunzel”) David Hockney, “The Older Rapunzel” 1969 (from “Rapunzel”)
" data-large-file="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel.jpg" class="size-full wp-image-273037" src="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel.jpg" alt="David Hockney, "The Older Rapunzel" 1969 (from "Rapunzel")" width="1000" height="866" srcset="https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel.jpg 1000w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel-300x260.jpg 300w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel-768x665.jpg 768w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel-60x52.jpg 60w, https://s26162.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/rapunzel-50x43.jpg 50w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> David Hockney, “The Older Rapunzel,” 1969 (from “Rapunzel”) Find more from this series here.