Roy Lichtenstein: Interiors
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,History & Criticism
Roy Lichtenstein: Interiors Details
From Publishers Weekly Showcasing "settings in which daily life and private acts can only be imagined," Roy Lichtenstein: Interiors presents (mostly previously unpublished) work from a 1999 exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art curated by museum director Robert Fitzpatrick and Dorothy Lichtenstein. The book features works from the artist's nudes series of the '90s and other work from the last decade. Continuing to borrow images and ideas from pop culture, Lichtenstein recast them in his inimitable, humorous, comic-strip style characterized by oversize pixels, flat light and primary colors. Also included are sketches, drawings, clippings from his scrapbook and photos of his sculptures. Essays by the two curators, the late Leo Castelli and others cover biography, reception and reminiscence. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Read more From Library Journal These two books explore the late work of two highly acclaimed artists. Completed in the 1990s during the final years of Lichtenstein's life, Interiors is the first trade edition of a 2001 title originally released in conjunction with a major exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. This body of colorful paintings and prints reflects the excess of the 1980s. Included in the large color reproductions are Lichtenstein's preliminary sketches and source materials, which add valuable insight to his working process. The 115 color plates are contextualized by short essays by five individuals who were closest to the artist, including his wife, and by a foreword by Robert Fitzpatrick (director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago). These essays paint an extraordinary portrait of this major artist. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more
Reviews
A companion to a 1999 exhibition held at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, this book focuses on a series that the artist painted in the 1990's, one of the last before his death in 1997, of interiors (living rooms, bathrooms, bedrooms...), a series that obviously harks back to Richard Hamilton's landmark collage "Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?", a defining moment of Pop Art. The illustrations (all in color)and photographs of Lichtenstein's studio or source material (popular comics) are accompanied by short and lively texts, all written by authorities on Lichtenstein (his widow Dorothy, his late dealer Leo Castelli)and make this publication a valuable addition to the literature on the artist, even though this particular body of works may not be the most memorable in the artist's career.