ROY LICHTENSTEIN, LANDSCAPE 9, LANDSCAPES, MOONSCAPES AND SEASCAPES, SCREEN PRINT AND CHROMOGENIC COLLAGE ON WHITE 100% RAG BOARD AND COMPOSITION BOARD, EDITION OF 100, 1967
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.
Read more about Landscapes, Moonscapes and Seascapes by Roy Lichtenstein.
ABOUT ROY LICHTENSTEIN
Born in Manhattan in 1923, Roy Lichtenstein was a leading figure in the Pop Art movement during the second half of the 20th century. His distinctive artistic style is inspired by the visual language of consumerism and advertising that pervaded American popular culture at the time, and his work recalls a society of widespread commercialism that has remained powerfully relevant to this day. Learn more about Roy Lichtenstein.
