Lulu 1982

Tom Wesselmann made “Lulu” using synthetic polymer paint, one of the hallmarks of Pop Art. In the post-war period, advertising and consumerism deeply impacted how gender and beauty were represented. Wesselmann was known for his series called "Great American Nudes," and here in “Lulu,” we see a continuation of his fascination with the female form, rendered in the bold, flat colors reminiscent of commercial art. However, it's worth asking, who is Lulu? Is she a celebration of female beauty, or does she perpetuate the objectification of women so common in advertising? The flowers framing her face and body might suggest a natural, innocent beauty, yet the heavy makeup and stylized features hint at an artificiality. These visual devices invite us to consider the complex interplay between natural beauty and constructed ideals. Wesselmann himself said he wanted his art to be “a celebration of things, of the simple facts that life is opulent if one looks at it that way.” Looking at Lulu allows us to reflect on how we define opulence and beauty, and whose vision of these ideals is being represented.