Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy

Mediums: acrylic, canvas.
Location: the Tate Gallery Britain, London, the UK.

Double portrait is one of the artist’s favorite genres. David Hockney depicted his models mainly in recognizable home situations – they are often busy with everyday chores. Mr. and Mrs. Clark – at that time, a newly married couple of designers – were friends of the artist. In fact, the name of the white cat on Ossie Clark’s lap is not Percy but Blanche; however, the author decided that the name of their other cat is more suitable for the name of the picture. The painting refers to the picture “Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple” by Jan van Eyck; it is filled with symbols and hints of the homosexual inclinations of the young husband, which after some time led to the collapse of this marriage.