Eric Shanes wrote of this poster, one of the few complete Hockney poster designs, 'From 1982 dates the brilliantly effective Stravinsky triple-bill poster for the New York Metropolitan Opera House's production of The Rite of Spring, Le Rossignol and Oedipus Rex. In keeping with the nature of these ballets and single-act operas, from top to bottom Hockney gives us a child-like - and thus suitably 'primitive' - face, a Chinese-like blue and white face (with its undertones of Ming ceramics) and a classical Greek-like head, which incorporates the imagery of a tragic mask. In this work Hockney's characteristic eclecticism is employed to powerful visual effect.'
Reference: ‘Off the Wall: Hockney Posters’ catalogue number 104.
