Bull II
Bull II
Signed Mixed Media
Roy Lichtenstein
£20,000-£30,000Value Indicator
$40,000-$60,000 Value Indicator
$35,000-$60,000 Value Indicator
¥190,000-¥290,000 Value Indicator
€23,000-€35,000 Value Indicator
$210,000-$310,000 Value Indicator
¥3,780,000-¥5,670,000 Value Indicator
$27,000-$40,000 Value Indicator
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68 x 89cm, Edition of 100, Mixed Media
Medium: Mixed Media
Edition size: 100
Year: 1973
Size: H 68cm x W 89cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Mixed Media
Last Auction: April 2025
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Meaning & Analysis
In his six part Bulls series of 1973, Roy Lichtenstein builds on the artistic claim of the modernist era, which asserts that universal truth is revealed through abstraction. The artist in this series parodies this belief by calling into question the presumed distinction between realistic and abstract depictions.
Taking guidance from 1970s cattle sales catalogues, Lichtensteinbased the prints in this series on preconceived drawings and preparatory collages.
Bull II depicts its subject matter as centred and only slightly more abstracted than Bull I.Adjusting minor details, like the background and the colour scheme, the bull here appears in vivid blue, blending into an equally blue striped background. Both the primary colour and the patterns are signatures of Lichtenstein’s comic book style. The combination of blue and white makes the outline of the bull appear softer and the overall composition flatter.
Bull II examines the transformation of art forms, as well as the development of printing techniques. Lichtenstein deliberately chose to execute the prints in the Bull Profile series using a combination of lithography and line cut. The progression from naturalism to radical simplification is intimately associated with these printing processes, mirroring the trajectory of the series as a whole.
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.
