David Hockney, the renowned British artist, once offered a distinctive theory regarding the extended sentence structure found in the prose of Marcel Proust. In a conversation recalled by Jonathan Brown, Hockney suggested that Proust’s famously long sentences may have been influenced by the French writer’s asthma, leading him to write in a rhythm that mirrored his breathing pattern. This interpretation, linking physiological condition to literary style, provides an alternative lens through which to consider Proust’s narrative technique.

Hockney’s connection to Proust extends beyond theory. The author’s presence is noted in several elements of Hockney’s work, including the depiction of Proust’s volumes on the lower shelf of a studio trolley in the artist’s portrait of his parents. Additionally, Hockney spent some of his later years painting in Normandy, the region closely associated with Proust’s life and work.

The insight offered by Hockney has also influenced academic engagement with Proust’s writing. Brown, a Cambridge tutor, cites this perspective as an “unfamiliar insight” that sparked further scholarly interest. Brown himself is preparing a short study on the subject and refers to Roger Shattuck’s book *Proust’s Binoculars* as a resource reflecting Hockney’s own explorations of optics, space, and time in relation to Proust.

Brown shares two personal rules for engaging with Proust’s complex narratives, endorsed by Hockney: reading Proust only while traveling—by train, plane, or boat—and restarting from the beginning upon finishing the novel. This approach is seen to honor the multifaceted observational style and shifting perspectives that characterize Proust’s work.

The ongoing appreciation for Proust’s writing style, despite contemporary trends favoring brevity, underlines the enduring resonance of his literary methods. Brown remarks on the optimism of fellow reader Josh Spero, who expressed a commitment to continuing his reading of Proust, reflecting a broader conversation about how classic literature persists in modern times.