One of the many artistic innovations developing during the 1960s was pop art.
Pop artists questioned the traditional definitions of art. They proposed the then sensational idea that everyday items and mass media images could be considered forms of art. Why not?
My favorite pop artist from the 1960s is Roy Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein is most well known for his paintings inspired by comic book panels.
Lichtenstein was originally inspired to recreate comic book panels in his work when one of his sons pointed to a panel of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck and challenged his father to do better. Lichtenstein went on to use comic books as the source for much of his artwork.
Characteristics of comic book panels that commonly appear in Lichtenstein's work include:
- Ben-Day dots (the dots comprising pictures in comic books)
- Vibrant colors
- Thought bubbles
- Speech balloons
- Written sound effects
I like Lichtenstein's work so much because I agree with the idea that comic books are an art form. Although I do not regularly read any comic books, I recognize the amount of effort that goes into drawing and writing these books.
Lichtenstein celebrates the drama and vivacity of comic panel artwork on a grand scale that draws me in on different levels of emotion and imagination. What do you think?
I agree...and I like his later work, too...it looks great on the wall...and in reproductions in art magazines and books...one of the original ideas behind his work, and that of Warhol...make it easy for reviewers to pick your work to illustrate the review.
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