‘He outlived four of his doctors’: what was behind David Hockney’s lifelong love of smoking?
Renowned artist David Hockney has passed away at age 88, leaving behind a legacy of iconic work and a well-known defiance regarding his lifelong smoking habit. The article reflects on his artistic career and his frequent public clashes with authorities over his personal choices.
Why it matters
Hockney was a seminal figure in 20th and 21st-century art, and his death marks the end of a significant cultural era.
He wore a badge saying: ‘End bossiness soon’ … Hockney smokes a cigarette as he campaigns at a Labour Party conference. Photograph: Chris Ison/PA View image in fullscreen He wore a badge saying: ‘End bossiness soon’ … Hockney smokes a cigarette as he campaigns at a Labour Party conference. Photograph: Chris Ison/PA David Hockney ‘He outlived four of his doctors’: David Hockney’s lifelong love of smoking – and the 2,000 cigarettes he kept at home ‘for emergencies’ His passion got him into scraps with the Paris Metro and numerous other bodies. Was it a social crutch? A Freudian response to his father? And why did he take such delight in writing to the Guardian about it all? David Hockney – a life in pictures David Hockney’s genius for fashion
The article is a biographical feature piece that maintains a respectful and objective tone regarding the subject's life and controversies.
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