Bull VI 1973

Curator: Roy Lichtenstein’s “Bull VI,” held here at the Tate, is the final print in a series exploring abstraction. It measures approximately 685 by 890 millimeters. Editor: My first impression is organized chaos, like a blueprint for a bull that's been exploded and then painstakingly pieced back together. Curator: Indeed, Lichtenstein distills the image of a bull to its bare geometric essentials. Notice how he uses bold lines and primary colors. Editor: It's almost playful. The deconstruction feels liberating, like shedding layers to reveal the core essence of the subject. Curator: I agree. The hard-edged shapes and flat planes move away from representational art. There's a clear influence of Cubism, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely. But with a Pop Art twist! It seems to ask us what truly defines the "bull"—is it form, color, or just our perception? Curator: Exactly, and that questioning is what makes Lichtenstein so captivating. Editor: Yes, this bull makes you think, maybe smile, and definitely question. It is far more than just yellow and lines.