Against Apartheid 1983

Roy Lichtenstein made this screenprint, Against Apartheid, with flat planes of color and bold outlines, typical of his pop art style. There's something ironic about the way he's using abstract expressionist gestures within a hard-edged composition, right? The stark contrasts, like the drips of black paint against the white background, give it an unfinished, immediate feel. It's like Lichtenstein is saying, "Here's the raw emotion," but containing it within his signature style. The juxtaposition of the painterly brushstrokes with the graphic lines emphasizes the process of artmaking and questions how mark making can convey complex ideas. You can't help but wonder how this piece relates to others who are equally concerned with political issues. Maybe it suggests that even within the constraints of style, there's room to speak out and make a statement.