Name: Landscape 9
Brand: Roy Lichtenstein
Rating: 5 (236 reviews)

Track auction value trend

Roy Lichtenstein's Landscape 9, a signed screenprint from 1967, is estimated to be worth between £2,800 and £4,200. This artwork has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 6%. This work has an auction history of 18 total sales since its entry to the market in October 2008. In the last 12 months, there have been no sales, however, over the past five years, the hammer price has ranged from £2,877 in October 2023 to £6,306 in October 2020. The average return to the seller for this piece is £3,438. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 100.

Meaning & Analysis

In the mid-1960s, Roy Lichtenstein put his renowned comic book motifs on hold in favour of exploring the traditions of landscape painting. He worked on his Landscapes, Moonscapes and Seascapes for over three decades. As part of the extensive project, the artist completed several autonomous portfolios.

Landscape 9 belongs to Lichtenstein’s Ten Landscapes of 1967, a grouping of fictitious nature scenes. The ten-part suite employs a distinct pop aesthetic, transforming landscapes into a brilliant superimposition of colours, contours and shapes. Landscape 9 displays a densely streaked waterscape. Its black and white stencil waves are contrasted against a delicate photographic backdrop depicting cloudy skies.

There are subtle transitions at work in this print, resulting in the most painterly edition of the Ten Landscapes portfolio. Lichtenstein allows the hand-made elements and the machine-made forms to blend seamlessly together. He introduces plastic Rowlux sheets that mimic the shimmer of light reflected on the water’s surface. The synthetic fabric supports the emerging and intersecting patterns, while also invoking a sense of movement.

Reflectivity and perception soon became significant subjects for Lichtenstein. In fact, his quest to create illusionistic effects using experimental materials continued throughout his career. For instance, he pursued comparable optical plays in his intricate Mirrors and later Water Lilies.

Roy Lichtenstein, born in New York, 1923, is a seminal figure in the Pop Art movement, renowned for his comic book and advertisement-inspired artworks. His transformative journey from classical painter to Pop Art pioneer began with his iconic piece, Look Mickey, marking the fusion of painting with pop culture. Lichtenstein’s works, including Whaam!, Drowning Girl, and Crying Girl, blend parody and satire, challenging the boundaries between popular culture and ‘high art’. With over 5,000 pieces to his name, Lichtenstein’s enduring influence resonates in contemporary art, his works celebrated in prestigious institutions worldwide.