LICHTENSTEIN, ROY (1923-1997)

“Whaam!” (3M488) (1963)
Limited edition colour lithograph, ed. Of 1500
70 x 149cm
*produced by the TATE Modern, 1967
*private collection, Sydney
 
Lichtenstein is a famous, iconic American Pop Artist. During the 1960s, along with Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, and James Rosenquist among others, he became a leading figure in the new art movement. His work defined the premise of pop art through parody. Inspired by the comic strip, Lichtenstein produced precise compositions that documented while they parodied, often in a tongue-in-cheek manner. His work was influenced by popular advertising and the comic book style. He described pop art as "not 'American' painting but actually industrial painting". His paintings were exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City. 
 
The iconic diptych "Whaam!" (3M488) (1963), the only authorised limited edition colour lithograph of this famous painting, produced by the TATE Modern in 1967 in a run of only 1500. This is the only lithographic run Lichtenstein authorised for this artwork. Whaam! and Drowning Girl are generally regarded as Lichtenstein's most famous works. Drowning Girl, Whaam!, and Look Mickey are regarded as his most influential works. His most expensive piece is Masterpiece, which was sold for $165 million in January 2017.