American Indian Theme V
American Indian Theme V
Signed Print
Roy Lichtenstein
£5,000-£8,000Value Indicator
$10,500-$17,000 Value Indicator
$9,000-$15,000 Value Indicator
¥50,000-¥80,000 Value Indicator
€6,000-€9,000 Value Indicator
$50,000-$80,000 Value Indicator
¥990,000-¥1,590,000 Value Indicator
$6,500-$11,000 Value Indicator
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59 x 85cm, Edition of 50, Woodcut
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
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Meaning & Analysis
Roy Lichtenstein’s American Indian Theme V is of the artist’s American Indian Theme series of the late 1970s and early 1980s. This series follows up on the artist’s first engagement with Native American heritage, explored by Lichtenstein in his pre-pop oeuvre 20 years prior.
A single carved wooden figure, interlaced by the familiar yellow braided rope recurring in the series, is seated in what appears to be a deep blue body of water. In this sense, American Indian Theme V mirrors the centralised layout of others works from the same series, like American Indian Theme III and American Indian Theme IV.
The sharp tonal contrasts present in this work are achieved through a specific relief process. The image is first gouged into a block of wood and inked with a roller. The indentations are then covered with paper and compressed with a rubbing tool, transferring the imprint onto the paper.
The aforementioned technique is first and foremost used to accentuate the patterned background of American Indian Theme V. The main motifs covering the majority of the surface behind the figure are clearly extracted from quilts and other similar textiles attributed to Native American culture.
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.
