Leda and the Swan 1968

Roy Lichtenstein made this screenprint, Leda and the Swan, with screen printing ink on paper. It’s a flat but dazzling arrangement of shapes and colors, like a cartoon trying to escape its frame. I love how Lichtenstein flattens everything out, yet the way he layers those benday dots gives it a weird kind of depth. It’s like he’s winking at the Old Masters while also giving a nod to comic books. The red, the yellow, the green – these are bold, unapologetic colors, like he's not trying to blend in, you know? He’s saying, "Here I am!" Take a look at that cloud on the right; it's almost like a little cartoon thought bubble. It’s this playful, almost goofy element in the midst of all this mythological seriousness. Like, even the gods have a sense of humor, or at least Lichtenstein does. It reminds me a little of Warhol’s pop sensibility, taking something highbrow and making it accessible, but with that distinctive Lichtenstein graphic punch. It’s a conversation across time, a remix of art history, and a reminder that art can be both smart and fun.