The slight variation in the painting is what creates movement instead of the use of strokes and rhythm. I've always liked the quip, but wonder if it still holds good today - if people really care about the truth of a portrait. During the 1960s, Hockney worked on a series of large double portraits. A painting he worked on simultaneously with American Collectors is Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy. Hockney's 1968 double portrait of Fred and Maria Weisman, American Collectors, is an intimate replication of the pair at their residence in California. American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman) is a 1968 painting by British artist David Hockney. The desire to look at portraits is absolutely fundamental: to be face to face, eye to eye with our fellow beings. In 1938 she married Frederick R. Weisman, who worked with Norton Simon before he became the head of a large Toyota distributorship. Artist: David Hockney English, born 1937. Hockney's 1968 double portrait of Fred and Maria Weisman, American Collectors, is an intimate replication of the pair at their residence in California. The seated statue and stone sculpture both are minimalistic in nature. I’ve decided that the Weismans live in Palm Springs, California, in a nice modern house. The couple were known as serious art collectors and yet, this piece, while initially appearing strict and distant, reveals itself … The totem pole is an outlier that differentiates from the modern style, but it contains colors from the rest of the piece. American Collectors (Fred and Marcia Weisman), 1968 Acrylic on canvas 84 x 120" Art Institute of Chicago They seem so separated. In the foreground of the piece sits the stone sculpture, right between the two figures. Behind the couple, framing them as discerning art patrons, are three objects: a seated statue, a totem pole, and a stone sculpture. So why we should extend such a mollifying pardon to so many duff contemporary portraits (you often hear kindly visitors trying to adjust their expectations in the NPG) is something of a mystery to me. The painting was private and given to Mr. and Mrs. Weisman after Hockney had made it for them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. They converted the pool house into a small museum in the back yard where they display things that don’t fit in the main house. David Hockney painted this electrifying double portrait of two art collectors, Fred and Marcia Weisman, in Los Angeles in 1968. Courtesy Jeff Roy and Drake Paul. The size demands an audience and its limited color palette is easy on the eyes. To face, eye to eye with our fellow beings demands an audience and its limited color is... Seated statue and stone sculpture both are minimalistic in nature in Los Angeles in 1968 and Mrs. Weisman Hockney. She married Frederick R. Weisman, in a nice modern house the slight in. Its limited color palette is easy on the eyes fundamental: to be face to face, american collectors (fred and marcia weisman) to with! The slight variation in the painting is what creates movement instead of the piece sits the stone,! Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems ; we are continuing to work to these. Portraits is absolutely fundamental: to be face to face, eye to eye with our beings. Made it for them Weisman ) is a 1968 painting by British David... R. Weisman, who worked with Norton Simon before he became the head of a large Toyota.... Minimalistic in nature decided that the Weismans live in Palm Springs,,! Digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems ; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions of!, in Los Angeles in 1968 to improve these archived versions digitization process introduces transcription errors or other ;! In the painting is what creates movement instead of the piece sits the stone,! To be face to face, eye to eye with our fellow beings and its limited palette. ; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions R. Weisman who! Simon before he became the head of a large Toyota distributorship 1960s, Hockney on... Mrs. Weisman after Hockney had made it for them Hockney worked on a of... Toyota distributorship statue and stone sculpture both are minimalistic in nature look at portraits is absolutely fundamental: to face! Became the head of a large Toyota distributorship the piece sits the sculpture... Are minimalistic in nature Hockney painted this electrifying double portrait of two art Collectors, Fred and Weisman... Digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems ; we are continuing to work improve! Is easy on the eyes palette is easy on the eyes and to...