California (1965)

David Hockney painted this scene shortly after moving from dreary England to sun-drenched Los Angeles in the 1960s, and you can feel his fascination with California pool culture in every brushstroke. The artist was captivated by the way water caught the light, transforming swimming pools into shimmering abstract patterns. Here, a figure floats peacefully on a striped raft while the pool's surface becomes a mesmerizing maze of blue and white ripples that almost seem to dance across the canvas.

Hockney's style sits somewhere between realism and something more stylized and flat, influenced by both pop art and his own graphic sensibilities. The wavy lines depicting the water are playful and decorative, turning what could be a simple poolside scene into something more pattern-like and alive. Notice how the green lawn and simple background elements frame the action without competing for attention. This painting captures a particular moment in American leisure culture while also showcasing Hockney's endless curiosity about how to paint water, a subject he would return to again and again throughout his career.