Inaugural
Inaugural
Signed Print
Roy Lichtenstein
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Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 100
Year: 1977
Size: H 51cm x W 77cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2022 | Wright | United States | |||
| September 2020 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| October 2018 | Doyle Auctioneers & Appraisers | United States | |||
| June 2016 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| June 2003 | Ketterer Kunst Hamburg | Germany |
Meaning & Analysis
Inaugural Print of 1977 is Roy Lichtenstein’s contribution to the Inaugural Impressions Portfolio. Published by the Democratic National Committee, the collection marked the occasion of Jimmy Carter’s presidential inauguration.
Inaugural Print is a commission similar to Bicentennial Print and Jobs Not Cheese, as it mirrors the layout of historical propaganda posters. Harnessing the cultural saturation of popular imagery, the work embraces a polished and mass-produced aesthetic. Rendered in vibrant hues offset by crisp blacks and whites, the composition revels in sharply defined outlines.
Lichtenstein allows a select few forms in this print to assume an entirely figural quality, while others remain completely amorphous. On the left, a hand composed of bold lines and dots is raised in a ceremonious salute, about to take the oath of office. The backdrop is populated by the stark white stars of the American flag and a bright yellow sunrise, symbolising the dawn of a new era.
The right side of the print depicts a vast desert with a neoclassical building, and a floating shape with only one cartoon eye. This eerie scene is reminiscent of the dreamscapes of Lichtenstein’s Surrealist prints. Inaugural Print strings together a range of peculiar and familiar shapes to reflect on tradition versus change.