Sunlit Secrets and Riviera Reveries in Hockney’s L’Arbois, Sainte-Maxime

A canvas once born from a summer romance now commands center stage at Sotheby’s London. David Hockney’s L’Arbois, Sainte-Maxime, painted in 1968, captures the golden glow of the French Riviera—a view shaped by days spent with fellow artist Peter Schlesinger. What looks like a simple hotel scene is actually a vibrant echo of Hockney’s personal and artistic turning point, inspired by the light and color of southern France after years in California. The painting’s journey is as dramatic as its palette: it last changed hands in 2011 for just over $2 million, but now returns with an estimate topping $9 million. This work marks the beginning of Hockney’s celebrated French period, which would soon yield his record-breaking Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures). L’Arbois, Sainte-Maxime isn’t just a landscape—it’s a snapshot of creative transformation, sun-soaked and storied. Sometimes, a hotel window frames not just a view, but the start of a new artistic chapter. #DavidHockney #ContemporaryArt #Sothebys #Culture