The artwork “Brushstroke,” created by Roy Lichtenstein in 1965, is a prominent example of the Pop Art movement and falls within the figurative genre. It is part of Lichtenstein’s “Brushstrokes” series.
The artwork showcases a stylized, exaggerated depiction of a single brushstroke rendered in Lichtenstein’s signature comic strip-inspired style. This piece juxtaposes a bold, sweeping black and yellow brushstroke against a meticulously dotted light blue background, reminiscent of the Ben-Day dots used in printing processes. The brushstroke, with its undulating, ribbon-like quality, seems to capture movement and spontaneity while being rendered in a highly controlled and mechanical fashion. This paradox highlights the tension between the spontaneous, expressive nature of the painterly gesture and the mechanical reproduction techniques central to Lichtenstein’s work. The depiction exemplifies the artist’s critique of abstract expressionism, encapsulating the ambiguity between high art and popular culture that defines Pop Art.
