Roy Lichtenstein was born in 1923 in New York City where he lived most of his life of 74 years.  Although he loved to draw, his High School didn’t offer art classes  so he would draw during his free time.  After high school he studied art at Ohio State University earning his bachelor’s degree and then received a MFA from the the same school. Later he would teach classes Ohio State and also taught art classes at SUNY Oswego, and then Rutgers University.

During the early 1960’s Lichtenstein created his first Pop Art paintings. Like many of his contemporaries he was inspired by commercial art of the 1960’s. His paintings emulated the strong black outlines evident in comic book art often using thick, horizontal stripes and patterned dots, called Benday Dots. Benday Dots were originally used in the early days of color printing, usually in cheap news papers and magazines. In the printing process at the time, the spacing of four different colors of dots either close together, far apart, or on top of each other, enabled the printers to mix all the colors. Lichtenstein was inspired by the effect and and incorporated the technique in his work. Looking closely at his works, one can often see the pattern of dots.  Lichtenstein’s drew inspiration from, newspapers, comic books, cartoons, and advertisements, and so his work became known as Pop Art because it portrayed images from popular culture.

Roy Lichtenstein, M-Maybe, 1965. Oil, magna on canvas, 152.4 x 152.4 cm. Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany

Roy Lichtenstein, M-Maybe, 1965. Oil, magna on canvas, 152.4 x 152.4 cm. Museum Ludwig, Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein, Drowning Girl, 1963, Pop art, Oil, 171.6 cm × 169.5 cm (67.625 in × 66.75 in)

Roy Lichtenstein, Drowning Girl, 1963, Pop art, Oil, 171.6 cm × 169.5 cm (67.625 in × 66.75 in)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein, In The Car, 1963, Pop art, 172 cm × 203.5 cm (67.75 in × 80.125 in), LocationScottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

Roy Lichtenstein, In The Car, 1963, Pop art, 172 cm × 203.5 cm (67.75 in × 80.125 in), Location Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein, Duplicator, 1963

Roy Lichtenstein, Duplicator, 1963

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein, Torpedos Los!, 1963, Pop art, 173.4 cm × 204 cm (68.3 in × 80 in) LocationPrivate collection

Roy Lichtenstein, Torpedos Los!, 1963, Pop art, 173.4 cm × 204 cm (68.3 in × 80 in)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein, Whaam, 1963, Pop art, acrylic and oil on canvas,170 cm × 400 cm (67 in × 160 in), Tate Modern, London

Roy Lichtenstein, Whaam, 1963, Pop art, acrylic and oil on canvas,170 cm × 400 cm (67 in × 160 in)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein Kiss II, 1962, 16 x 12 inches

Roy Lichtenstein Kiss II, 1962, 16 x 12 inches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIchtenstein

LIchtenstein

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIchtenstein, I Love You But, 1964

LIchtenstein, I Love You But, 1964, Pop Art, 121.9 cm × 121.9 cm (48.0 in × 48.0 in)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIchtenstein, Girl with Hair Ribbon, 1965 Oil and Magna on canvas 48 x 48 inches; 121.9 x 121.9 cm

LIchtenstein, Girl with Hair Ribbon, 1965, Oil and Magna on canvas, 48 x 48 inches; 121.9 x 121.9 cm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roy Lichtenstein, 1964, Pop Art, Enamel Material: steel, 116.8 x 116.8 cm

Roy Lichtenstein, 1964, Pop Art, Enamel
Material: steel, 116.8 x 116.8 cm