In the format of a semi-dialog, David Hockney and Martin Gayford in A History of Pictures discuss the history and various aspects of  picture-making.

Beautifully illustrated.

The most interesting thing is that Hockney seems not to have a very high regard for photography.

“… I question photography. A lot of people don’t, they accept the world looks like a photograph.

“But colour photography couldn’t get tones like those [Vermeer] as is has to rely on the dyes or printing ink. Those aren’t like paint, and never will be.”

“… I don’t know whether photography is an art. Some photographers considered themselves artists, and some didn’t
… Good photography does require intelligence and imagination but aa lot of it is very mechanical.”

Vermeer, Caravaggio, Degas, Delacrois, a few of the painters mentioned in the book that used photographic techniques for their paintings.

“Photography came out of painting and as far as I can see that’s where it is returning.”