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Alex Rosmarin's avatar

Excellent essay! Another possible inclusion, or satellite, to the series of double portraits is his “Model with Unfinished Self-Portrait” from 1977. Gregory is asleep and Hockney, pictured within the picture, seems to be looking over him; very much like an annunciation or nativity scene.

Robin Peckham's avatar

Yes absolutely, and also with the Vichy dynamic of the artist being removed from the composition because he has to leave to make the picture

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Nov 20
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Robin Peckham's avatar

Exactly! And the imbalance that is baked into the whole thing that defines the coming together and pulling away. It reminded me of how Anne Carson talks about cicadas and the curse of the Midas touch