Explosion
Explosion
Signed Print
Roy Lichtenstein
£28,000-£40,000Value Indicator
$60,000-$80,000 Value Indicator
$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator
¥270,000-¥390,000 Value Indicator
€30,000-€45,000 Value Indicator
$300,000-$420,000 Value Indicator
¥5,560,000-¥7,940,000 Value Indicator
$40,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
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56 x 43cm, Edition of 100, Lithograph
Medium: Lithograph
Edition size: 100
Year: 1967
Size: H 56cm x W 43cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
Last Auction: June 2025
Value Trend:
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Meaning & Analysis
Explosion by Roy Lichtenstein is both a tribute to comic book imagery and a critical reflection on warfare. In this early print from 1967, the artist inserts cartoon visuals into a fine art context. Executed as a signed offset lithograph in brilliant colours, the work is part of a limited edition of 100.
Beginning in the early 1960s, Roy Lichtenstein began borrowing images of explosions from popular war comics for use in his paintings. He was interested in the way dynamic events like explosions were depicted in the stylised format of cartoon illustrations. On the one hand, the subject matter embodies the revolutionary nature of Pop Art. At the same time, the topic suggests the very real threat of annihilation by a nuclear explosion that was prevalent at that time.
Executed as part of Portfolio 9 in 1967, Explosion pays tribute to the mass-produced perfection of its commercial source material. Lichtenstein refines and enlarges his shape to fit a fine art context, obscuring the border between different modes and hierarchies of representation. The artist combines vivid primary colours, harsh black outlines, and carefully plotted Ben Day dots in his portrayal of a perfectly calculated explosion.
The work functions as a reaction against the pretensions of art history and as a critical reflection on warfare. Similar to Lichtenstein’s explosive Whaam! and As I Opened Fire, the work is also a nod to the artist’s own years spent in the army. Explosion showcases the artist’s striking formal vocabulary, making this work a typical example of his creative oeuvre.
Roy Lichtenstein, born in New York, 1923, is a seminal figure in the Pop Art movement, renowned for his comic book and advertisement-inspired artworks. His transformative journey from classical painter to Pop Art pioneer began with his iconic piece, Look Mickey, marking the fusion of painting with pop culture. Lichtenstein’s works, including Whaam!, Drowning Girl, and Crying Girl, blend parody and satire, challenging the boundaries between popular culture and ‘high art’. With over 5,000 pieces to his name, Lichtenstein’s enduring influence resonates in contemporary art, his works celebrated in prestigious institutions worldwide.
