As Time Goes By (blue)

Howard Hodgkin ( 2009 )

Period Twenty-First Century
Materials Sugar-lift aquatint with carborundum relief and extensive hand-painting on five panels of 350 gsm Moulin du Gué handmade paper

Object Number 2010.016.0001
Dimensions overall: 96 in x 240 in; 243.84 cm x 609.6 cm
Credit Line Gift of Luther W. Brady, Mr. and Mrs. C. Richard Belger, Marion Oates Charles, Dr. and Mrs. Brian D. Dailey, Mr. Léonard Gianadda, Linda Lichtenberg Kaplan, Mr. and Mrs. Marc E. Leland, Caroline Macomber, B. Thomas Mansbach, Dr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Paul, Gifford and Joann Phillips, and Trish and George Vradenburg in memory of Laughlin Phillips, 2010

Measuring over 8ft by 20ft, As Time Goes By is Howard Hodgkin’s most ambitious and complex work to date. These two prints are the largest works ever made by Hodgkin and the largest etchings ever made by any artist. The ten panels incorporate sugar-lift aquatint, carborundum embossing, and hand-painting in acrylic. The overall composition was planned on separate sheets of hand-torn paper, placed side by side on the floor, and then painted by Hodgkin.

This major work is named after the song, As Time Goes By (1931) made famous by the film, Casablanca (1942). Hodgkin created As Time Goes By while suffering from a condition that depleted his strength. When asked about its scale, he explained: “They’re big to show that I can do it, despite everything. It’s not a very noble reason, but having been ill with this extremely sinister illness, I felt challenged…It’s the last time I’ll do anything like this…its hard work.”