In American Indian Theme III (1980), the third print in Roy Lichtenstein’s American Indian series, the artist explores the dramatic and often distorted imagery associated with Native American cultures, as depicted by Western civilizations and mass media.
At first glance, the print reveals familiar motifs: the American desert with its shrubs, cacti, totem poles, beadwork, and quills. Central to the composition is a large, open eye framed by an arched eyebrow, set above a set of lips turned sideways. This eye, evocative of the "evil eye" symbol, contrasts with Western interpretations—where it often signifies malevolence—by representing protection and warding off misfortune in Native American beliefs.
As one of the more striking pieces in the American Indian Theme series, American Indian Theme III uses stark, graphic forms to comment on the brutal and oversimplified portrayals of Native Americans in Western culture. Through his pop art lens, Lichtenstein critiques these cultural misrepresentations while exploring themes of identity and belonging within indigenous communities.