AMERICAN INDIAN THEME VI, 1980: Print by Roy Lichtenstein

  • BACK TO: AMERICAN INDIAN THEME SERIES Roy Lichtenstein’s American Indian Theme VI, 1980, presents a dynamic arrangement of bold patterns...
    American Indian Theme VI, 1980
    Woodcut on handmade Suzuki paper, sheet: 95.9 x 127.7 cm
    Edition of 50; plus 18 AP, 1 RTP, 1 PPI, 1 A, 1 C (and 1 teaching-aide proof)
    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
     
    BACK TO: AMERICAN INDIAN THEME SERIES
     
    Roy Lichtenstein’s American Indian Theme VI, 1980, presents a dynamic arrangement of bold patterns and geometric forms that fill the composition with colour and movement. On the right side of the print, a row of white triangular shapes runs across a bright yellow background, creating a strong graphic border near the top of the image. Beneath this section, a square spiral motif sits prominently within the composition, adding a sense of rhythm and directional movement. These repeating patterns emphasise the decorative quality of the work and draw the viewer’s eye across the surface of the print.
     
    At the centre of the composition, a stylised face emerges from a combination of yellow, red, and white shapes. Two small eyes appear near the top of the face, giving the form a mask-like presence within the composition. Surrounding this central figure, additional geometric elements appear throughout the print. To the left of the face, red and yellow shapes are layered over a blue and white striped background, creating strong contrasts between colour and pattern. Executed as a woodcut on handmade Suzuki paper, American Indian Theme VI forms part of Lichtenstein’s American Indian Themes series from 1980. 

  • "Art doesn't transform. It's just plain forms."

     
    - Roy Lichtenstein
    Across the series, Lichtenstein combines stylised faces, feather forms, geometric patterns, and symbolic shapes into highly structured compositions. These elements are rendered using flat areas of strong colour, repeated patterns, and simplified forms that emphasise design and visual rhythm. Executed primarily as woodcuts on handmade paper, the prints also highlight Lichtenstein’s interest in traditional printmaking techniques while maintaining the crisp, graphic aesthetic that characterises his work.