Nude in the Woods marks Roy Lichtenstein’s initial exploration of the nude figure in his work. This signed print, part of an edition of 50, also draws inspiration from German Expressionist motifs.
Nude in the Woods emphasises emotional depth over figurative detail, a hallmark of German Expressionism. Transitioning from his earlier portrayals of idealised comic book heroines in the 1950s and 1960s, Lichtenstein now engages with more abstracted female forms.
The nude figure is placed centrally in the composition, set against a backdrop of light blue, graphite, and forest green. While the form itself recalls Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, it is the figure’s emotive expression that captures the viewer’s attention. Departing from the traditional portrayal of the idealised nude as serene and sexually naive, Lichtenstein presents her as awkward, distressed, and psychologically confined by her perceived worth—her female form.