In fact, it was this risky approach that helped raise his profile and bring him incredible success.
Despite his memorable successes, theres more about Lichtenstein and his artwork thats less known.
Here are 6 facts about Roy Lichtenstein you may not have known.
Roy Lichtenstein in 1967.
His son inspired him to change his style.
This includes the use of thick, black outlines and Ben-Day dots.
Roy Lichtenstein in 1967. (Photo: Eric Koch / Anefo [CC BY-SA 3.0],via Wikimedia Commons)
The result wasLook Mickey,which includes many aspects of what was to come.
He had a complicated relationship with Abstract Expressionism.
While rightly considered one of the foremost pop artists, Lichtenstein once viewed himself as anAbstract Expressionist.
Later, hisBrushstrokesseries seemed to parody the style he had once adopted.
Created from 1965 to 1966, they poked fun at the gestural painting of expressionist masters.
In this way, the spontaneous gesture is transformed into an industrial painting.
Though it could be seen as a mockery, Lichtenstein didnt view it that way.
My work is, after all, a kind of straitjacket.
His use of known comic-book panels caused controversy.
As Lichtenstein continued to explore the use of comic book imagery and commercial printing techniques, his career exploded.
Many of these acclaimed paintings were adapted from comic panels by well-known artists.
In doing that, the original acquires a totally different texture.
It isn’t thick or thin brushstrokes, it’s dots and flat colors and unyielding lines.
He wasnt embraced by critics.
In fact, a 1964Lifemagazine about him was titled Is He the Worst Artist in the U.S.?
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Jose y yo Estudio/Shutterstock
However, this never stopped him from following his principals and focusing on the technical perfection of his work.
Those who deny his impact on art history need to only look at his paintings now.
Today, its one of the collections most iconic artworks and is worth tens of millions of dollars.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Jose y yo Estudio/Shutterstock
His career extended well beyond his comic phase.
Lichtenstein began to move away from his comic-infused artworks around 1966.
