Bull Head III
Bull Head III
Signed Mixed Media
Roy Lichtenstein
£5,500-£8,500Value Indicator
$11,000-$17,000 Value Indicator
$10,000-$15,000 Value Indicator
¥50,000-¥80,000 Value Indicator
€6,500-€10,000 Value Indicator
$50,000-$80,000 Value Indicator
¥1,060,000-¥1,640,000 Value Indicator
$7,000-$10,500 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: Mixed Media
Edition size: 100
Year: 1973
Size: H 53cm x W 72cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Mixed Media
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2024 | Bonhams Skinner | United States | |||
| September 2016 | Christie's New York | United States | |||
| November 2015 | Sotheby's New York | United States |
Meaning & Analysis
Roy Lichtenstein’s 1973 Bull Head series is, in a way, an extension of his Bull Profile series of the same year. Presenting a didactic abstraction process, the artist calls into question the abstract expressionist claim that universal truth is revealed through the distillation of forms.
Bull Head III resembles Bull V and Bull VI of the Bull Profile series with regards to its formalistic qualities. The work’s visual elements are reduced to an essence, as a horn-like structure sticks out towards the upper left corner and the hoof and hind legs of the cattle hover near the bottom of the composition. A yellow circle sits in the centre, situated high up, indicative of the sun above a pasture, as well as the eye of the bull. It is as though the anatomical features of the animal have been dismantled and spread out across the canvas. Lichtenstein has consistently maintained the same disposition and use of bright yellow and light blue pigmentation throughout the three part sequence of Bull Head series.
The prints in this series exhibit an investigation of the process of simplification, without the implied search for a higher meaning. Lichtenstein’s Bull Head series integrates traditional painterly gestures with simple line cuts, a refined lithographic technique and the ready made marks of screen printing.
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.
