Mustard on White 1963

Roy Lichtenstein made "Mustard on White" with paint, though it looks like it was printed. What I find interesting is the way the dots mimic the feel of mass-produced imagery. It flattens the space, but also kind of makes it pop. I can imagine Lichtenstein in his studio thinking, "How can I take something so everyday—a piece of toast with mustard—and make it iconic?" The thick outlines, the primary colors, the hand, the knife, the mustard - these elements are bold, brash, and kind of funny. It’s like he’s saying, "Yeah, this is just mustard on toast, but it’s also a statement about how we see and consume images." It reminds me of other pop artists like Warhol, who also elevated everyday objects to high art. It's about the ambiguity and uncertainty and how there isn't a single reading.