Brushstroke Contest
Brushstroke Contest
Signed Print
Roy Lichtenstein
£23,000-£35,000
$45,000-$70,000 Value Indicator
$40,000-$60,000 Value Indicator
¥210,000-¥320,000 Value Indicator
€28,000-€40,000 Value Indicator
$230,000-$350,000 Value Indicator
¥4,390,000-¥6,680,000 Value Indicator
$29,000-$45,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Lithograph
Edition size: 36
Year: 1989
Size: H 127cm x W 101cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2023 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| May 2020 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| May 2016 | Freeman's | United States | |||
| October 2015 | Phillips New York | United States | |||
| April 2015 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| November 2009 | Phillips New York | United States | |||
| May 2009 | Sotheby's New York | United States |
Meaning & Analysis
Roy Lichtenstein’s iconic exploration of the brushstroke motif comprises several unique editions and portfolios. Brushstroke Contest of 1989 is an extraordinary investigation of painterly expression. The print showcases intersecting pastel brushstrokes spelling out the Chinese characters of the word ‘contest’. This image was initially designed for use on a poster for the 24th Olympiad.
Brushstroke Contest has as its main objective to distill brushstrokes into striking visual signs. To achieve this, Lichtenstein exploits the inherently abstract qualities of his own pictorial style. The energetic compositional elements are in this print set against a graphic black and white backdrop. Akin to Lichtenstein’s Brushstroke Faces, the explosive sweeps here imitate the mannerism of abstract expressionist paintings.
That being said, the visual vocabulary employed in Brushstroke Contest is quintessentially pop. Lichtenstein’s mechanised cartoon brushstrokes counteract artistic legacies and the historical significance of emotive brushwork. As such, the sweeps in Brushstroke Contest appear as gestures of control rather than spontaneity.
Confronting fundamental beliefs about the artistic process, the print adapts and transforms the essence of painting. Lichtenstein’s work zeroes in on the very act of touching the tip of a paintbrush against a canvas. The artist ultimately offers a sophisticated commentary on artistic authenticity and subconscious mark-making.