Dagwood 1984

Roy Lichtenstein made this print, Dagwood, and he's playing with a few different languages here. You see how he combines the expressive brushstrokes with the more rigid graphic language he's known for. That kind of back and forth is what painting is all about! The layering is really interesting, with flat colors bumping up against areas that feel more gestural and active. Take a look at how the blues and grays on the left contrast with the solid yellow stripe down the center. Those bold diagonal stripes give it a real graphic punch, but then Lichtenstein throws in these almost messy brushstrokes, like he’s winking at the whole idea of 'high' and 'low' art. It makes me think of Jim Dine, who also brought a real sense of humor and everyday objects into his work. Both artists remind us that art is an ongoing conversation, full of playful contradictions and open to endless interpretations.