David Hockney's Love Paintings series, created in the early 1960s, is a pivotal collection in his oeuvre, exploring themes of homosexual love at a time when such expressions were both radical and politically charged. Among these, "The Third Love Painting" (1960) stands out for its bold exploration of gay love through veiled symbols and coded texts, reflecting Hockney's personal journey and the broader social context of the time.

This particular painting, housed in the Tate collection, features a dominant fleshy pink, phallic shape at its center, surrounded by fragmented written messages that Hockney had copied from graffiti found on a toilet wall at Earl’s Court tube station. This choice of inspiration from public yet concealed messages reflects the private public dichotomy of homosexual love during this era, offering insight into Hockney's creative and personal exploration of his own sexuality.

"The Third Love Painting" marks a period when Hockney began openly addressing homosexual love in his work, blending intimate and public narratives. The painting's gestural style, incorporating graffiti, draws significantly from the influence of Dubuffet, noted for his textured surfaces and use of urban graffiti as a medium for exploring private obsessions in a public format. This work, along with others from the series, signifies Hockney's bold declaration of his homosexuality and his innovative approach to painting on themes of homosexual love, intertwining personal identity with broader cultural expressions.

These Love Paintings are a testament to Hockney's ability to navigate and portray complex emotional landscapes, marking a significant moment in his career and in the history of art's engagement with LGBTQ+ themes. They underscore Hockney's contributions to the pop art movement and his status as one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, unafraid to explore and express themes of love, identity, and sexuality through his art​ (The David Hockney Foundation: Home)​​ (Art Fund)​.