Roy Lichtenstein is one of the principal figures of the American Pop art movement, along with Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Claes Oldenburg and Robert Rauschenberg.
Drawing inspiration from comic strips, Lichtenstein appropriated techniques commercial printing in his paintings, introducing a vernacular sensibility to the visual landscape of contemporary art. He employed visual elements such as the halftone dots that comprise a printed image, and a comic-inspired use of primary colors gave his paintings their signature “Pop” palette.
Born and raised in New York City, Lichtenstein enjoyed Manhattan’s myriad cultural offerings and comic books in equal measure. He began painting seriously as a teenager, studying watercolor painting at the Parsons School of Design in the late 1930s, and later at the Art Students League, where he worked with American realist painter Reginald Marsh. He began his undergraduate education at Ohio State University in 1940, and after a three-year stint in the United States Army during World War II, he completed his bachelor’s degree and then his master’s in fine arts. The roots of Lichtenstein’s interest in the convergence of high art and popular culture are evident even in his early years in Cleveland, where in the late 1940s, he taught at Ohio State, designed window displays for a department store and painted his own pieces.
Working at the height of the Abstract Expressionist movement in the 1950s, Lichtenstein deliberately eschewed the sort of painting that was held in high esteem by the art world and chose instead to explore the visual world of print advertising and comics. This gesture of recontextualizing a lowbrow image by importing it into a fine-art context would become a trademark of Lichtenstein’s artistic style, as well as a vehicle for his critique of the concept of good taste. His 1963 painting Whaam! confronts the viewer with an impact scene from a 1962-era issue of DC Comics’ All American Men of War. Isolated from its larger context, this image combines the playful lettering and brightly colored illustration of the original comic with a darker message about military conflict at the height of the Cold War. Crying Girl from the same year featured another of Lichtenstein’s motifs — a woman in distress, depicted with a mixture of drama and deadpan humor. His work gained a wider audience by creating a comic-inspired mural for the New York State Pavilion of the 1964 World's Fair, he went on to be represented by legendary New York gallerist Leo Castelli for 30 years.
In the 1970s and ’80s, Lichtenstein experimented with abstraction and began exploring basic elements of painting, as in this 1989 work Brushstroke Contest. In addition to paintings in which the brushstroke itself became the central subject, in 1984 he created a large-scale sculpture called Brushstrokes in Flight for the Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio. Still Life with Windmill from 1974 and the triptych Cow Going Abstract from 1982 both demonstrate a break from his earlier works where the subjects were derived from existing imagery. Here, Lichtenstein paints subjects more in line with the norms of art history — a pastoral scene and a still life — but he has translated their compositions into his signature graphic style, in which visual elements of printed comics are still a defining feature.
Lichtenstein’s work is represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Tate Modern, and many others. He was awarded National Medal of Arts in 1995, two years before he passed away.
Find a collection of Roy Lichtenstein prints, drawings and more on 1stDibs.
Indian with Pipe
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in New York, NY
This exceptional oil on canvas by master Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is an exceptional and unique example of his early pre-pop work. It is signed by the artist, upper right. After m...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
The Diver
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in Long Island City, NY
This is an important early painting by Lichtenstein. It will be included in forthcoming Catalogue Raisonne by the Lichtenstein Association. Artist: Roy Lic...
Oil
$795
H 15 in W 30 in D 2 in
Mid Century Modern Dancers Oil Painting; Listed Artist Albert Michini, ca 1970’s
Located in Baltimore, MD
If you have an association with dance, yoga or working out, this unusual modernist painting might be an interesting addition to your space. Artist Albert Michini used several models ...
Oil
$1,650
H 18 in W 36 in D 2 in
Stylish Hawaiian Luau Oil Painting by Listed artist Mario Larrinaga (1895-1979)
Located in Baltimore, MD
Mario Larrinaga was born in Baja California in 1895 and moved with his brother to Los Angeles in 1909. He had no formal training in art, but had natural talent that was noticed by local movie studios. He was hired by Universal Studios as a designer, art director and creator of background scenes. He produced some of the background effects for King Kong in 1933. After a career in set design and illustration he focused on painting for pleasure in California, Mexico and Hawaii. He belonged to local art clubs and exhibited his works often. This stylized modernist work was likely created around 1960. It is oil on wood panel and of a horizontal format, 18” x 36”. It portrays a procession of seemingly Hawaiian natives...
Oil
“The Wizard”
By Nahum Tschacbasov
Located in Southampton, NY
Here for your consideration is a mid century modern oil painting on masonite by the well known Russian/American artist, Nahum Tschacbasov. The painting depicts an old man with a long wispy beard holding a group of birds. Signed lower right and dated 1954. Presently unframed. Condition is very good. Provenance: The estate of the artist Nahum Tschacbasov. Nahum Tschacbasov Biography : Russian-American artist Nahum Tschacbasov (1899-1984) is known for his cubo-surrealistic works which feature a strong psychological element. Some of his work bears a resemblance to work of another Russian-American artist--David Burliuk. He was somewhat of a late starter, moving to Paris in 1932 to study under Adolph Gottlieb, Marcel Gromaire and Fernand Leger. He had his first exhibition in Paris in 1934. He then returned to the US where he joined Rothko and Gottlieb at the Galery Seccession. He was one of the co-founders of The Ten, a group of social conscious abstract painters which included Rothko, Gottlieb, Joseph Solman and Ilya Bolotowsky, among others. In 1944, he began to work at Stanley Hayter's Atelier 17, a center for surrealistic ideas. Between 1936 and 1943, he had five one-man exhibitions at the ACA Galleries and participated in five group shows. He also exhibited at the Whitney, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Knox Albright Museum, the Chicago Institute of Fine Art and Corcoran, among others. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Met, the Whitney, the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum. Tschacbasov has been the subject of two recent retrospective at Fletcher Gallery, Woodstock, NY and Arthur...
Masonite, Oil
“Family”
By Hazel Finck
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on canvas. Signed and dated lower right 1930 Biography Hazel Finck Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Hazel Finck studied art with Guy Wiggins and Sigismund Ivanowski, a Russi...
Canvas, Oil
$2,800
H 24 in W 28 in D 2 in
Jewish American Modernist Orchestra QUARTET New York oil Painting
By Tully Filmus
Located in New York, NY
This is for an original Oil Painting by the famous New York Jewish Artist Tully Filmus Painting Depicts a orchestral Quartet of men beautifully painted and Amazing Good Condition ...
Oil
Lords of the Sky oil painting by Julio De Diego
By Julio de Diego
Located in Hudson, NY
Lords of the Sky (c.1950) Oil on canvas, 30" x 24" 40" x 34" x 2" framed Provenance: The Artist, his daughter About this artist: Julio De Diego crafted a formidable persona within ...
Canvas, Oil
$5,600
H 41 in W 48 in D 2 in
Three-Day Weekend, colorful oil painting and mixed media on canvas
By C. Dimitri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oil paint and mixed media on canvas. Narrative, figurative and abstract, with a car, rabbit, snake and floral motif.
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$2,000
H 10 in W 12 in
Untitled oil painting of children playing by Eugenie Schein
Located in Hudson, NY
Eugenie Schein was both a dancer and an artist. Her artwork subjects revolved primarily around dancers and dancing, though she also captured everyday scenes in New York. Both Midto...
Canvas, Oil
$4,620
H 30.32 in W 24.02 in D 1.97 in
'Santa Panagia, Sicily' oil on canvas by Eardley Knollys
Located in London, GB
Eardley Knollys (1902-1991) 'Santa Panagia, Sicily' Oil on canvas 77 x 61cm Unsigned Eardley Knollys was a deeply impressive and charming figure. E...
Canvas, Oil
$1,023
H 15.75 in W 19.69 in
Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Oil Painting Psychological Symbol
By Nerea Caos
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Figurative Oil Painting Psychological Symbolism Artist: Nerea Caos (b. 1993) Title: El feto que todo lo ve Medium: Oil ...
Canvas, Oil
$26,500
H 36 in W 30 in
Homage to the Spanish Republic 1938 oil painting by Julio De Diego
By Julio de Diego
Located in Hudson, NY
An early work by Julio De Diego embodies the deep love he had for his homeland of Spain, combined with his strong emotions against war. The peacefulness of the couple holding hands l...
Masonite, Oil
“Woman with Red Dog”
By Nahum Tschacbasov
Located in Southampton, NY
Modern oil on canvas painting by the Russian/American artist, Nahum Tschacbasov.. Signed top right and dated 1960. Condition is very good; no restorations.. Presently unframed. Provenance: Estate of the artist, Nahum Tschacbasov. Nahum Tschacbasov was born in Russian in 1899 but moved to Chicago when he was a young boy. He moved to New York City as a young man and spent over 50 years living and working from a series of apartments in the Chelsea Hotel. He learned to paint as a young man in France with his early teacher being Georges Rouault. Tschacbasov returned to New York and for years exhibited at ACA gallery, Perls Gallery and later with John Heller...
Canvas, Oil
$6,500
H 38 in W 31 in
Modernist Portrait of a Woman by Philadelphia Artists Julius Bloch
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Julius Thiengen Bloch (American, born Germany, 1888-1966) Portrait of a Woman Oil on canvas, 32 x 25 1/4 inches Framed: 38 x 31 inches (approx.) Signed at lower right: "Julius Bloch"...
Canvas, Oil
$1,700
H 36 in W 12 in D 1.5 in
"It's the Rest of the World That is Moving" (2024) by Amy Hutcheson
By Amy Hutcheson
Located in Denver, CO
"He Opened His Hand And I Put My Stories Into It" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting on canvas, by Amy Hutcheson, that depicts an abstract painting with colorful geometric ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,100
H 28 in W 16 in D 1 in
Travel Guide. Seated male figure reading large yellow bird shaped canvas
By Stephen Basso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Painted on an arch shaped canvas signed on lower left and on reverse. ABOUT Stephen Basso Stephen Basso's highly original pastels and oil paintings are romantic, yet thought provo...
Canvas, Oil
Indian
By Roy Lichtenstein
Located in New York, NY
This oil on canvas by master Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein is an exceptional and unique example of his early work. It is signed and dated in oil, lower left recto. After moving to Cl...
Canvas, Oil
