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The Couple - Signed Print by Roy Lichtenstein 1980 - MyArtBroker

The Couple
Signed Print

Roy Lichtenstein

Price data unavailable

AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.

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Medium: Woodcut

Edition size: 50

Year: 1980

Size: H 85cm x W 75cm

Signed: Yes

Format: Signed Print

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The value of Roy Lichtenstein's The Couple (signed) is estimated to be worth between £27,000 and £40,000. This woodcut print from 1980 is a rare artwork, having been sold 7 times at auction since its initial sale on 29th October 2009. The hammer price for this work has shown consistency, with an average annual growth rate of 3%. The edition size of this piece is limited to 50.

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Auction Results

Auction DateAuction HouseLocation
Hammer Price
Return to Seller
Buyer Paid
September 2021Christie's New York United States
October 2018Phillips New York United States
September 2016Wright United States
April 2016Christie's New York United States
November 2013Sotheby's New York United States
May 2013Sotheby's New York United States
October 2009Sotheby's New York United States

Meaning & Analysis

The portfolio of the Expressionist Woodcuts is made up of portraits, some reminiscent of Lichtenstein’s acclaimed comic strip icons of the 1960s, see Shipboard Girl as an example.

The Couple depicts two figures embracing, the female resting her hand on her companion’s face and neck. Blocks of yellow and black adorn the background. While Lichtenstein’s use of distinct shading and defined shapes evoke the lyricism expressed by expressionist artists, the rich colouring and schematic forms suggest pop influences. The appearance of this print oscillates between Pop Art and Expressionism, as a means to challenge high art in an age of mechanical reproduction.

Therefore, both the smoothly drawn stripes and the jagged contours of the figures signify the tone and texture of commercial printed materials. By drawing attention to its surface qualities, Lichtenstein aimed to strip the impression of this print from the implied emotiveness of expressionist artworks. There is no narrative, only surface, colour and a permeating sense of irony.

  • Roy Lichtenstein, born in New York, 1923, is a seminal figure in the Pop Art movement, renowned for his comic book and advertisement-inspired artworks. His transformative journey from classical painter to Pop Art pioneer began with his iconic piece, Look Mickey, marking the fusion of painting with pop culture. Lichtenstein’s works, including Whaam!, Drowning Girl, and Crying Girl, blend parody and satire, challenging the boundaries between popular culture and ‘high art’. With over 5,000 pieces to his name, Lichtenstein’s enduring influence resonates in contemporary art, his works celebrated in prestigious institutions worldwide.

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