BULL IV, 1973: Print by Roy Lichtenstein from his Bull Profile Series

Lichtenstein’s Bull IV, 1973, shows the bull reduced even further into a composition of simplified geometric forms. The figure is constructed from a series of conjoined shapes, primarily rectangles and triangles, which define the structure of the body. Most of the lines that form the bull are straight or gently curved, reinforcing the highly controlled, graphic quality of the image. The tail is one of the few elements that breaks from this rigid geometry. Despite this reduction, the bull still retains an animalistic presence, with the horn suggested by a semicircular outline and the nose defined by a curved form that is cut off at the base. Areas of blue that previously indicated shadow are now simplified into bright blue circular shapes and a single blue line near the tail.

 

The background introduces bold bands of colour that further emphasise the print’s graphic structure. To the right of the figure, red and white stripes create a strong visual rhythm, while adjacent sections of yellow and black stripes contrast sharply with the simplified bull. Beneath the bull’s head, a plain yellow area anchors the composition. Bull IV forms part of Lichtenstein’s Bull Profile series of 1973, in which the artist progressively reduced the image of the bull across a sequence of prints. Produced using lithograph, screenprint, and linecut on Arjomari paper, the work reflects Lichtenstein’s interest in combining different printmaking techniques to create bold colour contrasts and precise graphic forms.