This is the greatest drawing ever done. That is quite a claim but I didn’t make it. It was in fact made by David Hockney. David had recently moved to Bridlington and was working in the Yorkshire Wolds as part of the build up to his monumental solo exhibition at the Royal Academy which was then some years in the future. His sister Margaret was exhibiting her scannergraphs at the Rudston Art Centre at the time so it was not unusual for her brother to pop in for a coffee and a chat. It was both fascinating and illuminating to be part of conversations with the world’s greatest living artist. On one occasion he produced a few prints of the drawing and it was then that he made his claim. What made it so in his opinion was the skill and speed Rembrandt would have needed to capture this fleeting moment and yet he has accomplished it with consummate ease using the absolute minimum of strokes. It was and is a master class in brevity and one that inspired Hockney in his future work. My easel and paints were at the ready and after David had gone I did this simple line and wash rendition of Rembrandt’s masterpiece. I have tried to use the principle of simplifying a scene to its essentials ever since. After all it would be unwise to ignore the lesson from two great masters! Here's a copy of the original by Rembrandt:
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