Name: Still Life
Brand: Roy Lichtenstein
Rating: 5 (235 reviews)

Track auction value trend

The value of Roy Lichtenstein’s Still Life (signed) is estimated to be worth between £18,000 and £27,000. This screenprint has shown consistent value growth, with an average annual growth rate of 15%. Over the past 12 months, the artwork has sold once, at an average selling price of £18,101. In the last five years, the hammer price has varied from £10,198 in March 2024 to £18,101 in November 2024. Since its first sale in April 2012, this work has been sold 6 times at auction. The edition size of this artwork is limited to 50.

Meaning & Analysis

Roy Lichtenstein was commissioned to create his Still Life of 1968 for The Metropolitan Scene portfolio. The limited collection comprised five prints in total, all manufactured on aluminium by renowned contemporary artists. Lichtenstein’s contribution to the portfolio is a mechanical still life rendition in lively yellow and green. Although the print embraces the decorative qualities of still life painting, it was executed according to a pronounced commercial aesthetic.

In creating this print, the artist was evidently influenced by the art historical significance of still life motifs. Still Life’s composition incorporates traditional floral shapes but puts a distinct pop spin on the centuries-old genre. The print’s calculated and centralised imagery is entirely devoid of the usual ambiance and underlying meaning of its source material. Instead, the artist employs geometric forms, captured through the means of mass-printing. As a result, the work becomes a contrastive portrait of nature versus machinery.

Still Life reflects a contemporary, almost lyrical, equivalent to traditional modes of depiction. The print unites stylistic conventions abstracted from Cubism, Art Deco and Constructivism. As such, it sets a precedent for Lichtenstein’s Modern Head series from 1970. Additionally, the print’s playful cartoon layout also serves as the inspiration for Lichtenstein’s Six Still Lifes of 1974.

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.