Modern Painting with Bolt 1967

This is an intriguing painting by Roy Lichtenstein, who worked in the pop art style that became popular in the 1960s. Just imagine Lichtenstein in his studio, carefully sketching out the composition, probably using tape to mask off the crisp, clean lines. The striking yellow bolt slices through the air like a hot knife, juxtaposed against a blue circle and geometric wings, the energy almost palpable. I find myself wondering what Roy was thinking about when he made this, maybe the speed of modernity, maybe just the joy of putting such bold colors together. It’s the Ben-Day dots that really get me. Each dot, so uniform and precise, yet together, they create depth, texture, and an illusion of movement. Lichtenstein, like other painters, builds upon the discoveries of the past, reinterpreting them and pushing them in new directions. It’s this ongoing conversation, this playful experimentation, that makes painting so alive.