Literature

Corlett, Mary Lee. The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonné 1948–1993. (Corlett 128)

Printed by

Styria Studio, New York

Published by

Multiples, Inc. and Castelli Graphics, New York

Dimensions

Sheet: 119 × 95.8 cm (46⅞ × 37¾ in.)

Image: 99.2 × 76.5 cm (39 × 30⅛ in.)

Condition

A fine impression with fresh colours, full margins and the printer's blindstamp. Signed, dated and numbered in pencil. In very good condition.

Catalogue Note

Executed in 1974, Still Life with Figurine forms part of Roy Lichtenstein's celebrated Six Still Lifes portfolio, a landmark series that reinterprets one of the oldest subjects in Western art through the distinctive visual language of Pop Art. While still-life imagery had appeared throughout Lichtenstein's earlier work, this portfolio marked his most sustained and sophisticated investigation of the genre.

Rather than depicting everyday objects naturalistically, Lichtenstein transforms the traditional still life into a carefully orchestrated composition of bold outlines, Ben-Day dots and flat areas of vibrant colour. The present work juxtaposes a classical figurine with contemporary decorative objects, creating an intriguing dialogue between the history of art and the visual language of mass reproduction. This fusion of high culture and popular imagery lies at the heart of Lichtenstein's artistic practice, inviting viewers to reconsider familiar forms through the lens of modern graphic design.

Technically, the print is among the artist's most accomplished graphic works. Combining lithography and screenprinting, Lichtenstein achieves exceptional precision in colour registration while preserving the crisp graphic qualities for which his work is celebrated. The monumental scale further enhances the visual impact of the composition, allowing every line, dot and colour field to assume an almost architectural presence.

Published by Multiples, Inc. and Castelli Graphics and printed by Styria Studio, the Six Still Lifes portfolio is widely regarded as one of the defining achievements of Lichtenstein's mature printmaking. Still Life with Figurine exemplifies the intellectual wit, formal clarity and technical brilliance that established the artist as one of the leading figures of twentieth-century American art.

Its relatively small edition of only one hundred impressions, together with its impressive scale and impeccable production, has made it one of the most sought-after prints from Lichtenstein's classic 1970s period.