Nude With Blue Hair State I
Nude With Blue Hair State I
Signed Print
Roy Lichtenstein
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Medium: Relief print
Edition size: 10
Year: 1994
Size: H 130cm x W 80cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2017 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| October 2013 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| April 2009 | Sotheby's London | United Kingdom | |||
| October 2008 | Sotheby's New York | United States |
Meaning & Analysis
Roy Lichtenstein’s Nudes of 1994 place cartoon imagery once again at the centre of his composition. The highly sexualised portrayal of women throughout art history, as well as in contemporary society, has been of paramount importance to Lichtenstein’s work.
The artist’s earliest depictions of female heroines originated in popular comic books and movie stills. These female figures were featured in several of Lichtenstein’s other series, primarily functioning as supporting elements in his creative exploration. The actual nude, however, appeared as a subject matter late in the artist’s career.
In Nude With Blue Hair, the application of the red Ben Day dots vary in size, transgressing the boundaries of the figure's naked upper body and head. Overlaying the contours of her face, the dots cascade from the picture’s top to the bottom. The flowing pattern is merely interrupted by the figure’s pale blue hair, suggesting that she in fact exists in a three-dimensional pictorial space inside the frame.
Patches of clear white base correspond to Lichtenstein’s literal stripping of the female subject to an essential form. The image is closely cropped, seemingly revealing the figure’s availability and generic desire. However, as the naked female figure leans unapologetically into view, the dynamic between subject and observer is subverted. In the end, the beholders themselves feel intruded upon by the leading lady of the composition.
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.
