Roy Lichtenstein Possibly 1985 - 1990

Curator: Here we have Robert Mapplethorpe's photograph of Roy Lichtenstein. The print measures approximately 61 x 51 centimeters and is part of the Tate Collection. Editor: The composition strikes me immediately – the soft focus on Lichtenstein's face, set against one of his own bold paintings in the background. It is an interesting contrast in textures and moods. Curator: Mapplethorpe often challenged notions of beauty and art production. He uses the photographic medium here to capture Lichtenstein in a very classic, almost portrait-like pose, yet it's framed by one of his own pop artworks. Editor: And in doing so he is underscoring the context and the commercial art world that shaped Lichtenstein's career, bringing focus to his craft and labor by putting his face in front of the work. Curator: Precisely, and by choosing to photograph a fellow artist, Mapplethorpe inserts himself and his artistic choices into the larger narrative of 20th-century art. Editor: It is also about the image, isn't it? The politics of creating iconic images, whether through painting or photography, both artists engage with that. Curator: Well put. It gives you a lot to think about in terms of artistic legacy, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely, it’s much richer now knowing more about their intentions.