Sheet: 58.4 x 78.8 cm; 23 x 31 in
Image: 55.7 x 76 cm; 21 7/8 x 29 7/8 in
Framed: 85 x 105 x 3 cm; 33 1/2 x 41 3/8 x 1 1/8 in
Numbered from the edition of 300. Printed by Aetna Silkscreen Products, New York. Published by Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, for the Pasadena Art Museum, California.
Roy Lichtenstein’s 'Brushstrokes' is a quintessential example of his Pop Art approach, where he merges the aesthetic of comic books with a critical examination of artistic conventions. Created in 1965,...
Roy Lichtenstein’s "Brushstrokes" is a quintessential example of his Pop Art approach, where he merges the aesthetic of comic books with a critical examination of artistic conventions. Created in 1965, this work subverts the traditional notion of a brushstroke as a personal, expressive gesture by rendering it in his signature comic-book style, characterized by thick outlines and Ben-Day dots. In doing so, Lichtenstein blurs the line between the mechanical and the handmade. The piece functions as both a critique and a celebration of the art world’s emphasis on the uniqueness of the artist’s hand. Through his use of industrial techniques to reproduce a traditionally emotive mark, Lichtenstein reflects on the commodification of art in mass culture. The vibrant colours and exaggerated forms further emphasize the artificiality of the subject, engaging viewers in a dialogue about the intersection of high art and commercial imagery. Ultimately, "Brushstrokes" challenges preconceptions about artistic authorship and the nature of representation, making it a seminal work in the Pop Art movement.