Shriek 1986

James Rosenquist made Shriek using lithography, a printmaking technique where the image is drawn on a flat stone or metal plate. Look at how Rosenquist layers imagery, creating a kind of visual overload that mirrors the experience of modern life. It feels like flipping through channels or scrolling endlessly. The surface has a cool, almost detached quality, which is characteristic of Pop Art. Notice the flatness of the colours, and how the images are juxtaposed without blending. Those lines cutting through the composition - they’re not quite dissecting, but more like slicing. See how they flatten the image, pushing everything to the front. There’s something confrontational in Rosenquist's work that reminds me of Sigmar Polke, another artist who wasn't afraid to mix high and low culture, abstraction and representation. Both artists challenge our perceptions and expectations, asking us to look closer, and think harder. Ultimately, Shriek is a reminder that art doesn't always have to provide answers.