Roy Lichtenstein in front of ‘Whaam!
The American-born artist Roy Lichtenstein is generally regarded as one of the leading figures of the Pop Art movement, alongside other greats such as Andy Warhol. Lichtenstein is best known for his satirical paintings inspired by comic books, but he was a hugely prolific artist, and he experimented in numerous different styles during his career.
Yet his work has always had a subversive edge, and much of it remains controversial today, with Lichtenstein critics accusing him of simply copy-catting and plagiarising his source material. Despite – or perhaps because of – this, Lichtenstein remains hugely popular, with the majority of his prints selling for £1,000 to £5,000, and many fetching far higher prices.
Lichtenstein’s life was characterised by restless energy and determination, and his willingness to push boundaries secured his reputation as one of the most influential artists of his time. But how well do you really know the man behind some of the most iconic images of the 20th century? Below are seven facts you might not have known about Roy Lichtenstein.
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He Was A Big Jazz Fan
Lichtenstein’s mother, Beatrice, had trained as a pianist, and her son inherited her love of music. Growing up in New York City, he frequently attended concerts, where he often drew portraits of the musicians as they played, and he himself also played the piano and the clarinet. This enduring love of music is reflected in much of Lichtenstein’s artwork, especially in his Composition series, where strips of sheet music swirl around like crazy, brightly-coloured ribbons, reflecting the free, improvisatory aspect of the jazz he loved so much.
His Most Expensive Print Sold For £4.9 Million
Vicki! I — I Thought I Heard Your Voice dates from 1964, by which time Lichtenstein had built a reputation for himself as a leading force in the Pop Art movement, and a subversive who was willing to bait, mock, and topple the status quo. The print was sold by Sotheby’s in March 2019 for an extraordinary £4,928,500, showing without a doubt that interest in Lichtenstein’s work (especially his Pop Art comic book-style pieces) is still thriving.
Roy Lichtenstein in front of ‘Whaam!aVicki! I — I Thought I Heard Your Voice Sold by Sotheby’s in 2019
He Was Drafted Before Finishing His Studies
Lichtenstein began studying at Ohio State University in 1940, but he was drafted in 1943 and sent to Europe in 1945. He continued to paint and draw when he could during these years, and some of his army duties included drawing maps. Lichtenstein’s time in the army saw him travel to England, France, Belgium, and Germany, and it gave him the opportunity to encounter work by numerous influential artists such as Rembrandt and Cézanne.
Despite considering studying at the Sorbonne, Lichenstein had to return to the US at the end of 1945 to visit his father, who was gravely ill. His father died in the January of the following year, and Lichenstein was discharged from the army, then returned to Ohio State University to finish his degree.
His Transition To Pop Art Was Partly Thanks To His Son (Probably)
Lichtenstein’s 1961 painting, Look Mickey, is generally regarded as a crucial link between the artist’s abstract expressionist work and his iconic pop art pieces. Though there were hints of the famous shift in Lichtenstein’s style in the years leading up to Look Mickey, the story goes that Lichtenstein’s son pointed to an image in one of his comic books, then bet that his father couldn’t paint something as good.
We may never know exactly how true the story is, but one thing is certain: the image marked a decisive shift in Lichtenstein’s style. It was a shift that was to bring him fame and secure his reputation as one of the most important artists of his generation.
His First Solo Exhibition Of Comic Book Pop Art Sold Out
Roy Lichenstein’s first solo show featuring works done in his new style was held at The Leo Castelli Gallery in early 1962, which belonged to a leading New York contemporary art dealer. The show contained pieces such as The Engagement Ring, The Refrigerator, and Blam, which were heavily criticised by many at the time, but are now among Lichtenstein’s most well-known images.
Despite the criticism, Lichtenstein’s show sold out easily, and it marked the beginning of what was to become the most successful period of his career. He also retained a lifelong affiliation with the Castelli Gallery, which is famous for its exhibitions of other avant-garde artists, including Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Frank Stella.
“As I Opened Fire” – Roy Lichtenstein
He Was Heavily Criticised Throughout His Career
It wasn’t only after his groundbreaking exhibition at the Castelli Gallery that Lichtenstein suffered the wrath of the critics; he was hounded by accusations of plagiarism and appropriation until the end of his career, and much of his work is still contentious because of it.
Critics argue that Lichtenstein didn’t credit, pay royalties to, or ask permission from the artists whose work formed the foundation for many of his own pieces. Lichtenstein, however, was always open about his source material. He believed that: “The closer my work is to the original, the more threatening and critical the content. However, my work is entirely transformed in that my purpose and perception are entirely different. I think my paintings are critically transformed, but it would be difficult to prove it by any rational line of argument.”
He Was Also A Sculptor
Although Roy Lichenstein is best known for his Pop Art paintings and prints, he also experimented in sculpture. The artist painted many of his sculptures in vibrant colours using his characteristic Ben-Day dots. This had the interesting effect of flattening something which was, quite clearly, a 3-D object, making the sculptures look almost like they belonged in one of Lichtenstein’s paintings or prints.
Other Lichtenstein sculptures include the Brushtrokes, which are, quite literally, huge renditions of 3-D brushstrokes, inspired by a series of paintings he began in the 1980s. Brushstrokes held a real fascination for Lichtenstein, and they can be found even in some of his last pieces, such as the print Brushstroke Still Life With Lamp, which was created the year he died, and was sold for £470,000 by Christie’s in October 2006.
“Woman: Sunlight, Moonlight” – Roy Lichtenstein
