505

Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997), "America from the Series La Nouvelle Chute de L'Amerique", 1992, color etching and aquatint on Arches paper, pencil-signed, dated and annotated "H.C." edition lower margin, 18-7/8" x 13-7/8". Glazed in a float-mount frame. Published: Corlett, Mary Lee. The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonne 1948-1997. Hudson Hills Press, New York, catalogue no. 267. "America" is part of one of the last major series Roy Lichtenstein worked on before his death, and represents the culmination of "Beat Generation" art. The ten etchings Lichtenstein created for "La Nouvelle Chute de L'Amerique (The New Fall of America) was conceptualized as a collaborative project between the artist and poet "Allen Ginzberg. The etchings were created in tandem with eleven poems by Ginzberg that symbolize American culture from coast to coast, with idiosyncratic titles like "From Denver to Montana", "An Open Window in Chicago", "Bayonne Entering NYC", and "Graffiti 12th Cubicle Men's Room Syracuse Airport." Both etchings and poems were assembled in a loose-folio limited edition of 80, published by the French publisher Editions du Solstice in Paris. An additional 45 (marked H.C.) were reserved exclusively for the authors and publishers. The flag here is one of Lichtenstein's most iconic images, which he manipulated throughout the years in his trade mark style of benday dots and directorial line stenciling- mass commercial printing techniques he borrowed respectively from sign advertisements and comic books and newsprints in the 1950s and 1960s. Lichtenstein purposely drew his inspiration from pop culture, turning the landscape of kitsch iconography into a veritable art that discloses the artifice of its design, making people rethink the imagery they take for granted, whether it be the portrayal of sexuality and gender they see in print culture or the food they eat at the ballpark while standing for the national anthem. Lichtenstein was fascinated by the trivial, by how it becomes the visual landscape of our day-to-day lives, and tried to elevate it, in his own words, "into a purely American mythological subject matter." Nowhere is motif better visualized than in the American flag, aptly titled "America". Here the symbol that encapsulates not only the geographical terrain of the nation, but also its culture, which makes it distinctly American from Montana to New York City, is expressed in the print medium of its representation.


  • Condition: In overall very good condition. No visible losses, tears or repairs were detected. There is a small stain (yellow blemish) in the margin above the third red stripe from the left in the etching plate. Sight: 17" x 13". Overall frame: 28-1/4" x 23-1/4".

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

New Orleans Auction Galleries does not provide shipping. A list of local shippers whom our clients have used and found to be reliable is available on request.

March 12, 2016 10:00 AM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

New Orleans Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $200
$5,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $14,999 $500
$15,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 + $5,000