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Seeing Through Drawing · Movie Vault
LibrarySeeing Through Drawing
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Seeing Through Drawing

19782h 0m0.0/ 10 · TMDB · 0 votes
Documentary

At the time the longest arts documentary the BBC had ever shown, this film is about the fascination and meaning of drawing; why we draw, what we draw, what has been drawn and how drawing differs from painting or photography. During the course of it David Hockney makes two drawings of one of his favourite subjects, Celia Birtwell. The caricaturist and illustrator Ralph Steadman is seen at work in his studio, as well as drawing some of the regulars in his local pub. And the American Jim Dine, well-known first in the 60’ as a pop artist, completes this trio of contemporary artists, all of them preoccupied by drawing and talking freely, not only about their own approach, but about the work of other artists they admire. The film also includes unique archive film and photographs of Matisse and Giacometti, as well as quotations from the notebooks and letters of major European artists from Leonardo da Vinci to Degas and Van Gogh.

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Our screenings

A
Ansh Kapoor

No screenings recorded

Unwatched

The people behind the story

David Hockney
David Hockney

Self

Ralph Steadman

Self

Where to watch

Streaming availability is not currently listed for India. Listings may be incomplete.

Last checked 9 Oct 2026.

Availability data by JustWatch via TMDB. Confirm availability with the service.

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Film details

Released11 Mar 1978
Original languageEnglish
CountriesNot listed
View on TMDB