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Roy Lichtenstein outgrew term pop art, says widow prior to Tate show Roy Lichtenstein outgrew term pop art, says widow prior to Tate show
(7 months later)
Surprisingly, Roy Lichtenstein was not a comic book fan as a boy, his widow, Dorothy, says, and the painter became frustrated at forever being labelled a pop artist.Surprisingly, Roy Lichtenstein was not a comic book fan as a boy, his widow, Dorothy, says, and the painter became frustrated at forever being labelled a pop artist.
Dorothy Lichtenstein gave the revealing insights as a retrospective of her late husband's art was previewed at Tate Modern. It is the first since his death in 1997 and the most comprehensive show of his work ever attempted, bringing together 125 paintings and sculptures that of course include a lot of what would be called pop art, including the comic-strip paintings he is best known for.Dorothy Lichtenstein gave the revealing insights as a retrospective of her late husband's art was previewed at Tate Modern. It is the first since his death in 1997 and the most comprehensive show of his work ever attempted, bringing together 125 paintings and sculptures that of course include a lot of what would be called pop art, including the comic-strip paintings he is best known for.
Dorothy said the 1960s pop artists felt they outgrew the term – "it was something of the moment," she said. "Having said that, he accepted it, he didn't make a big deal of it. In fact, you could blame it on the Brits," referring to the critic Lawrence Alloway and artist Richard Hamilton, who brought the term pop art into being. Jack Cowart, executive director of the Lichtenstein Foundation, added: "Better than being Roy who?"Dorothy said the 1960s pop artists felt they outgrew the term – "it was something of the moment," she said. "Having said that, he accepted it, he didn't make a big deal of it. In fact, you could blame it on the Brits," referring to the critic Lawrence Alloway and artist Richard Hamilton, who brought the term pop art into being. Jack Cowart, executive director of the Lichtenstein Foundation, added: "Better than being Roy who?"
It is probably more than 50 years since anyone with even a passing knowledge of visual art said that of a man who became an art world superstar.It is probably more than 50 years since anyone with even a passing knowledge of visual art said that of a man who became an art world superstar.
His early pop art works from the early 1960s, such as Look Mickey and Whaam! – both in the show – brought him fame and subsequently fortune but also divided people. Life magazine in January 1964 asked: "Is he the worst artist in the US?" There were plenty of others who regarded him as the best.His early pop art works from the early 1960s, such as Look Mickey and Whaam! – both in the show – brought him fame and subsequently fortune but also divided people. Life magazine in January 1964 asked: "Is he the worst artist in the US?" There were plenty of others who regarded him as the best.
Dorothy Lichtenstein said her late husband viewed fame very lightly, knowing its fickle nature. "He used to joke that someone was going to shake him and he'd be in a wheelchair in a nursing home, still in the snow belt of Oswego, and someone would say time for your medicine again Mr Lichtenstein."Dorothy Lichtenstein said her late husband viewed fame very lightly, knowing its fickle nature. "He used to joke that someone was going to shake him and he'd be in a wheelchair in a nursing home, still in the snow belt of Oswego, and someone would say time for your medicine again Mr Lichtenstein."
Both she and the Lichtenstein Foundation hope that visitors will see much that will surprise them: that they might go "Gee, I didn't know he did that too," said Cowart.Both she and the Lichtenstein Foundation hope that visitors will see much that will surprise them: that they might go "Gee, I didn't know he did that too," said Cowart.
Certainly Lichtenstein's very late landscapes in the Chinese style, from 1996 to the year of his death, 1997, will be new to most visitors' eyes – although, with their dots, they are unmistakably Lichtenstein.Certainly Lichtenstein's very late landscapes in the Chinese style, from 1996 to the year of his death, 1997, will be new to most visitors' eyes – although, with their dots, they are unmistakably Lichtenstein.
Similarly, his brass art deco sculptures from the late 1960s may surprise. Co-curator James Rondeau said they were some of his favourite works. "When I was a kid, somehow art deco was the style of the future, even though it was the past – like Batman movies. Somehow Gotham is an art deco city."Similarly, his brass art deco sculptures from the late 1960s may surprise. Co-curator James Rondeau said they were some of his favourite works. "When I was a kid, somehow art deco was the style of the future, even though it was the past – like Batman movies. Somehow Gotham is an art deco city."
Another room contains a little-seen series of studies of nude women. Dorothy said she thought Roy was "in awe of women". She added: "He had more female friends than male friends and he may have thought that women were smarter than men, in general."Another room contains a little-seen series of studies of nude women. Dorothy said she thought Roy was "in awe of women". She added: "He had more female friends than male friends and he may have thought that women were smarter than men, in general."
Lichtenstein comes across as funny and generous and modest; he does not fit into the "tortured artist" bracket, although his widow said he was like anyone in getting frustrated. "Sometimes if he really didn't know what to do he would just like to go down to his studio and just clean brushes, do the housekeeping of painting," she said. "But he usually worked on several paintings at a time so that if he was stuck with one he could proceed with another. He was pretty methodical about it."Lichtenstein comes across as funny and generous and modest; he does not fit into the "tortured artist" bracket, although his widow said he was like anyone in getting frustrated. "Sometimes if he really didn't know what to do he would just like to go down to his studio and just clean brushes, do the housekeeping of painting," she said. "But he usually worked on several paintings at a time so that if he was stuck with one he could proceed with another. He was pretty methodical about it."
The Foundation set up after his death has catalogued more than 5,200 works and his paintings carry an enormous price tag. His 1964 work Sleeping Girl set a new record for the artist when it sold for £27.8m at Sotheby's in New York last May. Having said that, there is a significant number of early Lichtenstein works still out there, uncatalogued, because he would often give it away or sell them for a few dollars.The Foundation set up after his death has catalogued more than 5,200 works and his paintings carry an enormous price tag. His 1964 work Sleeping Girl set a new record for the artist when it sold for £27.8m at Sotheby's in New York last May. Having said that, there is a significant number of early Lichtenstein works still out there, uncatalogued, because he would often give it away or sell them for a few dollars.
The show, co-organised by Tate Modern and the Art Institute of Chicago, opens to the public on Thursday having already been seen in Chicago and Washington. After London it will travel to the Pompidou centre in Paris.The show, co-organised by Tate Modern and the Art Institute of Chicago, opens to the public on Thursday having already been seen in Chicago and Washington. After London it will travel to the Pompidou centre in Paris.
• Lichtenstein: A retrospective is at Tate Modern, 21 February-27 May• Lichtenstein: A retrospective is at Tate Modern, 21 February-27 May
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