Howard Hodgkin would often take years to complete a painting, returning to make additions and changes after long periods of time. This is why many of Hodgkin’s paintings have a date that isn’t a single year.

This present work is a rare example of this type of working in Hodgkin’s printmaking. The artwork started as a different work, the editions of which were signed, numbered and titled in 1974, and thereby reaching completion by usual standards. That work was Interior (Night), with the reference Heenk 23.

In 1978 Hodgkin returned to the work, taking 50 of the 75 editions and having them trimmed down and recoloured by hand in orange gouache. They were then signed and numbered anew.

This work is therefore incredibly unusual, being a print that has been published twice in substantially different forms, with the second form being an entirely new artwork rather than something that could be considered simply altered.

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Notes:

Heenk 46
Aquatint from two copper plates printed in black, red and orange, with hand colouring in orange gouache
On cream Velin Arches mould-made paper
Signed with initials in pencil, lower centre
Numbered 19/50 in pencil, lower centre

Proofed and printed by Maurice Payne at the Petersburg Studios, London, 1973-74
Hand coloured by Sam Hodgkin under the artist’s supervision, 1978
Published by Petersburg Press, 1978

Bespoke Sgraffiti flush perspex box frame