Modern Head #2
Modern Head #2
Signed Print
Roy Lichtenstein
£16,000-£24,000Value Indicator
$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
$30,000-$45,000 Value Indicator
¥150,000-¥230,000 Value Indicator
€19,000-€28,000 Value Indicator
$170,000-$250,000 Value Indicator
¥3,090,000-¥4,640,000 Value Indicator
$21,000-$30,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Lithograph
Edition size: 100
Year: 1970
Size: H 50cm x W 30cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2025 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| February 2025 | Lama | United States | |||
| June 2024 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| June 2024 | Rago | United States | |||
| March 2024 | John Moran Auctioneers | United States | |||
| September 2021 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| April 2021 | Sotheby's New York | United States |
Meaning & Analysis
Roy Lichtenstein rose to prominence in the 1960s with his humorous cartoon imagery, promptly followed by his appropriations of art historical genres. His Modern Head series of 1970 references modern masters of Cubism, Constructivism and Art Deco among others. In addition to a set of five Modern Head prints, Lichtenstein also created a limited number of Modern Head sculptures.
The Modern Head prints seek to critically dismantle the history of modern art, through a formal idea particularly favoured by Lichtenstein; impure style. Accordingly, Lichtenstein’s Modern Heads are founded on both artistic and architectural sources. The prints feature elements that allude to painterly gestures and sculptural anatomy, as well as facade ornamentation and interior design
Modern Head #2delves deeper into the idea of depicting human figures as machines. Whereas Modern Head #1 is the most abstract edition of the series, this print exhibits the most minimalistic portrait of the sequence. The flat black planes in this work are adorned with white and bright yellow curvilinear geometric forms. Modern Head #2 blends the streamlined industrial look of the 1930s with Pablo Picasso’s simplified cubist drawings. Produced using a distinct lithographic printing method referred to as line cut, Lichtenstein manufactures a work with a refined and highly stylised finish.
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.
