Finger Pointing 1973

Roy Lichtenstein made this painting of a hand in a suit pointing directly at you with lithograph and silkscreen. It has a limited palette of bold red, black and white, all outlined with thick lines, and punctuated with a printed pattern of red dots. You can feel the original comic book source in the flat areas of color, and the high contrast that shouts out from the wall. I imagine Lichtenstein in his studio, carefully applying each layer of ink, thinking about the visual language of mass media and how to transform it into high art. He builds his paintings like a machine, while also channeling a human touch. The gesture in this piece is so direct, so confrontational. It reminds me of the work of other artists who engage with popular culture. In its graphic simplicity and immediate impact, it is hard to avoid the feeling that you are being accused!