By Paul Dunwell, writing for EasyFrame
© Copyright EasyFrame 2019
What this article is about
This article is about Roy Fox Lichtenstein, one of the leading American pop artists who, alongside peers such as Andy Warhol, broke the mould. In the 1960s they created a visual world as fresh and revolutionary as the music of The Beatles and The Stones that accompanied it.
Lichtenstein was a bit of a comic in two senses. His work was often a tongue-in-cheek parody of a recognisable original, and it usually mimicked comic-book art. He rather self-deprecatingly described his most famous pieces, 'Whaam!', 'Drowning Girl', 'Oh, Jeff ... I Love You Too ... But' and 'Look Mickey', as 'industrial art'.
Opinion has been divided. He was labelled a copycat, and 'Life Magazine' once asked: 'Is He the Worst Artist in the US?' In his defence, another work, 'Masterpiece', was thought good enough to sell for 5,000,000 in 2017. Were he still alive, he'd surely cock a snook at the critics.
His legacy still influences contemporary culture. The Irish band U2 has used it as a tour backdrop, and his 'Crying Girl' was brought to life in the film 'Night at the Museum: Battle for the Smithsonian' (2009). It is visually arresting and unstuffy, and that makes it worth acquiring.
Lichtenstein produced many limited-edition prints. 'Drowning Girl' (below; also known as 'Secret Hearts' or 'I Don't Care! I'd Rather Sink') can be bought unframed from sources such as the auctioneers at www.artsy.net/artwork/after-roy-lichtenstein-drowning-girl-1963-for-art-basel-1 (that print is one of 1,000).
Some originals are very big. 'Whaam!' is 1.7m x 4.0m (5 ft 7 in x 13 ft 4 in). Prints better suited to modest modern homes are available!
What was pop art?
The 'pop art' of Lichtenstein and Warhol dominated much of the second half of the 20th century. It rejected elitist culture and took its imagery from popular culture: adverts (remember Warhol's Campbell's soup cans?) and cartoons. The whole point of being popular was to be affordable for the populace, so it was never going to be confined to ill-lit, musty galleries.
The early days
Lichtenstein was born in 1923. He began in abstract expressionist art, largely as a cubist, but started hiding cartoon figures such as Bugs Bunny in his work. At 38, while teaching art, he became a pop artist when his son challenged him to paint a cartoon as well as the illustrator of his Mickey Mouse books. The result was the 4ft-square 'Look Mickey', in graphite and oil, which sold for £27,000,000 some 50 years later.
In 1961 Leo Castelli put much of Lichtenstein's work on show in his gallery. Influential collectors snapped up the lot before the show opened, and Lichtenstein never looked back.
Drawing inspiration, or unapologetic plagiarism?
Lichtenstein would often blow up very small originals by other artists and transform them. His detractors point to this heavy reliance on other people's work:
- His own son's Mickey Mouse challenge: “I bet you can’t paint as good as that, eh, Dad?”
- 'Whaam!' was based on a panel by Irv Novick in DC Comics' 'All-American Men of War'. Novick, whom Lichtenstein met in the army, drew for MLJ Comics (later Archie Comics) and DC, illustrating Batman, The Joker, Superman's Girl Friend Lois Lane and The Flash.
- 'Drowning Girl' came from Tony Abruzzo's splash page for 'Run for Love!' in 'Secret Hearts' (and, as Lichtenstein acknowledged, borrows from Hokusai's 'Great Wave').
- He borrowed from everybody from Picasso to Van Gogh, whose 'Bedroom in Arles' became Lichtenstein's 'Bedroom at Arles'.
In all fairness, Lichtenstein always brought something new to the table. He made subtle and crucial changes. And to create a worthwhile parody, you have to know what is being parodied!
Versatility
Lichtenstein was also a sculptor, so he wasn't out of his depth away from a flat page, and his subject matter was wide-ranging, as the examples below show.
He also made a film called 'Three Landscapes', some huge murals in public places, customised car paint jobs and more.
Conclusion
Roy Lichtenstein's work will stay popular, and even a print is likely to hold its value. To find out how to obtain his work, go to www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/roy-lichtenstein-1508, where there is a shop selling unframed prints and much more.
If you buy his prints, and to build a collection you'll need several sources, have them all framed by one supplier in matching frames. Unless you know your stuff when it comes to picture frames and mounts, it's worth going to experts. EasyFrame is an obvious and affordable supplier, whether you want everything you'd need to do the job yourself or would rather they did it for you. Any good framer will show you a range of solutions and advise on what suits the work and where it will hang.
EasyFrame is on 01234 856 501 and sales@EasyFrame.co.uk, and they'll always chat even if you don't want to buy!