Still Life with Portrait, 1974

Roy Lichtenstein’s Still Life with Portrait (1974) is a striking example of the artist’s continued exploration of art history through the lens of Pop Art. In this work, Lichtenstein blends his iconic Ben-Day dots, bold outlines, and graphic clarity with the traditional still-life genre, creating a playful yet sophisticated dialogue between past and present. The inclusion of a framed portrait within the composition complicates the picture plane, turning the still life into a self-referential commentary on representation itself. Lichtenstein’s ability to merge classical subject matter with the visual language of mass reproduction underscores his central role in redefining how modern audiences engage with imagery, artifice, and cultural memory.

Executed as a lithograph and screenprint in colors with debossing on Rives BFK paper, this large-format work—measuring 47 × 37 1/2 inches—demonstrates Lichtenstein’s technical mastery and his interest in pushing the boundaries of printmaking. Signed, dated, and numbered from an edition of 100, the piece holds significant weight within his print oeuvre, both for its scale and its inventive interplay of techniques. The use of debossing adds a tactile dimensionality that heightens the graphic precision of the image, further emphasizing Lichtenstein’s commitment to elevating printmaking into a fine-art form. Still Life with Portrait stands as a dynamic, museum-quality work that captures the artist’s wit, sophistication, and enduring influence on contemporary visual culture.