#4: We Two Boys Together Clinging, 1961.

We Two Boys Together Clinging is a critical piece in David Hockney's repertoire. Painted in the earlier years of Hockney’s career, We Two Boys Together Clinging defined his style and skills as an artist. This oil on board piece is expressed in mostly reds and blues, and exhibits two stick-figure like boys embracing with scattered words spread across the canvas on a multi-colored background. This painting is a candid expression of emotion. Though displaying artistic techniques, this piece was clearly meant to express a story, not to show off artistic ability. The details, such as the splotches, strokes, and scratches, all compliment the meaning of the painting.

The title of the piece, taken from a poem by Walt Whitman, articulates the fervent emotion of love. However this painting takes a different stance on the passion in love, portraying that not only is true love everlasting and withstanding, but is also at times complicated and unconventional. This work of art is relatable to many young people who were gaining acceptance of their sexual orientation as Hockney was at the time. This personal piece is one of the works that resulted from Hockney’s “coming-out” period in the sixties, where he openly displayed his homosexuality, especially with regards to art.

The sketchy style that the picture is displayed in depicts his raw and complex personal experiences that motivated his painting. The boys are also drawn in a way that they are recognized as boys, but are not identifiable. This is symbolic of the two characters representing all boys or beings in general, instead of viewing the lovers as entities unconnected to the average person. The mixture of the cool and red colors also suggest a romantic scene. The subtle strokes connecting their two bodies further portrays the fact that they are “clinging”, and the deep connection between the two characters. There is also an art to the way Hockney illustrates the boys’ characters. They are not particularly exotic, unique, or masculine men, in fact, they are quite ordinary. It was this ordinary quality that drew attention to Hockney’s works and attracted viewers. Hockney’s piece is a depiction of American society and culture- efficiently yet subtly expressing youthful and humanistic emotions.