David Hockney has, in some ways been the victim of his own popularity. Frequently interpreted as the lightweight expression of a colourful personality, his work is characterized by an underlying seriousness of purpose. Each of the volumess six chapters, broadly chronological in sequence is introduced by an essay that examines in depth certain aspects of Hockneys artistic practice. The complexity of his imagery is further elucidated in the commentaries accompanying each of the colour plates. (...)