Artists' Alphabets: Man Ray & David Hockney

Eames Fine Art Print Room

159 Bermondsey Street

London SE1 3UW

Modern artists have long used the familiar ABC book (or abecedary) as a starting point for more diverse themes, and we are delighted to be exhibiting two portfolios of such works in this exhibition. Man Ray's Alphabet for Adults, published in 1948 and Hockney's Alphabet, illustrated by David Hockney, published in 1991.

All these prints are available to purchase online, or call us to make a purchase over the phone or to discuss framing and delivery requirements. We have one example of each of the Man Ray lithographs and a limited quantity of each David Hockney letter. All artworks are on display in our Bermondsey Street Print Room and will be available for delivery or collection at the end of the exhibition.

Man Ray's words and line drawings in his Alphabet for Adults correspond only loosely to each letter, suggesting automatic drawing or another associative Surrealist game. In his introduction, shown in the image here in full, he writes 'To make a new alphabet of the discarded props of a conversation can lead only to fresh discoveries in language'.

The Alphabet for Adults was published in 1948 by Copley Galleries, Beverly Hills, a shortlived gallery (they existed for only six months) which closed in spring 1949. Alongside Man Ray, they exhibited work by other notable Surrealists including Max Ernst, Joseph Cornell, Roberto Matta and René Magritte - although they sold very little and their accountant was reportedly 'the unhappiest bookkeeper on the West Coast'. Man Ray's exhibition, which was accompanied by this publication, featured paintings, photographs, Rayograms and sculpture. 

Read more about Copley Galleries here.