Roy Lichtenstein Expressionist Woodcut Series For Sale

  • Roy Lichtenstein Expressionist Woodcut Series For Sale

    Roy Lichtenstein Expressionist Woodcut Series

    Facts | History | Meaning
    Catalogue Title  Expressionist Woodcut Series
    Year 1980
    Size Varied
    Medium Varied
    Edition Varied
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  • Roy Lichtenstein Expressionist Woodcut Series

    "I want a mechanical image in my prints. But after a while, I was able to achieve that technical quality too easily. Woodcuts resist that. I like the way you have to fight against the block to get the image you want,  it’s a real feat to see if you can make a woodcut without getting a woodcut quality." - Roy Lichtenstein 

     

    Expressionist Woodcut series, 1980 (Reclining Nude, Nude in the Woods, Expressionist Heads, The Couple, Reflections on Expressionist Painting, Dr Waldman)
     
    Roy Lichtenstein’s 1980 Expressionist Woodcut series, comprising seven prints, is one of his most sophisticated as it looks outside both his Pop art genre and American art movements for reference. The series originated on a visit to Los Angeles in 1978, where he was introduced to Robert Gore Rifkind’s collection of German Expressionist prints and illustrations. Influenced by the avant-garde inspired, stylistic elements within the movement, such as heavy black linework, bold colours and angular features, Lichtenstein recreated these in his own prints through the prism of his own pop art characteristics.
    The series marked a shift in Lichtenstein’s oeuvre from the mass appropriating comic book style imagery of his 60’s and 70’s work, to the stylistic conventions and even the work of old masters. German Expressionists, particularly the Brucke artists in the 1900’s focused on woodcut prints characterised by simplified forms and heightened colour, Lichtenstein followed the tradition by creating this series in birch wood for blocks with hand cut lines and coloured pencil drawings.
    The overly energetic lines, jagged angles and bright colours still mean the artworks are reflective of Lichtenstein’s pop art style, although this series doesn’t utilise his favourite ben day dot technique. Prints such as Expressionist Head are cropped to focus in on the subject matter, the overbearing jagged angles create a menacing aura around these visually dynamic characters.  
    The Expressionist woodcut series is also the first time Lichtenstein ventures into using Nudes (later he dedicated a whole series to them, Nude Series) – see Nude in the Woods, Reclining Nude – we don’t need to see the whole curvilinear female form, the suggestion through the flattened perspective and distorted image is that these are figures marginalised by the society they inhabit.
    The Expressionist woodcut series is not only influenced by the motifs of expressionism and explores them throughout the series, but Lichtenstein also uses the prints to engage in a discourse on what it means to make art and the relationship between art and society.
     
  • Buy or sell Expressionist Woodcut Series prints by Roy Lichtenstein at Andipa Editions

    Buy Roy Lichtenstein Expressionist Woodcut Series

    Andipa Editions, as part of Andipa, have been at the forefront of the Lichtenstein market for over 20 years. To enquire about buying the Expressionist Woodcut Series by Roy Lichtenstein, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371.

     

     

     

    Sell the Expressionist Woodcut Series by Roy Lichtenstein

    With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your Expressionist Woodcut series prints. Straight-forward and stress-free, we manage the process on your behalf and help to maximise your return. For a complimentary valuation of your Expressionist Woodcut Series print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. Explore our collection of Roy Lichtenstein prints for sale.