Figures 1977

In Roy Lichtenstein's "Figures," we find ourselves amidst symbols stripped bare, presented with a mechanical detachment characteristic of the pop art movement. These stark forms evoke a sense of fragmented memory. Take, for instance, the abstracted head on the right, filled with wood grain. It recalls ancient totems and idols, yet its depiction is so stylized, so drained of organic vitality. The disembodied head has a long and varied history in art from the severed head of Medusa to the portraits of Roman emperors displayed as trophies of power. Here, however, its meaning is not immediately clear. It might provoke anxiety or, conversely, indifference. It lays dormant, waiting for our subconscious associations to animate it, to re-imbue it with life or significance. This play between flatness and depth, between cultural echo and contemporary expression, is where Lichtenstein's genius lies. He does not dictate meaning but invites us to participate in the eternal dance of symbols.