BULL V, 1973: Roy Lichtenstein print from the Bull Series

Roy Lichtenstein’s Bull V, 1973, pushes the simplification of the bull motif even further, reducing the figure to a sparse arrangement of geometric shapes and graphic lines. The elements that once clearly suggested the animal’s form are now almost entirely abstracted. Only fragments of the bull remain recognisable, most notably the horn positioned at the top right of the image. The head is suggested through a series of red, blue, and black lines that form a slightly downward angled shape, hinting at the posture of the animal while avoiding any detailed representation. What remains is a geometric structure that only loosely recalls the body of a bull.

 

Behind the simplified figure, the background is composed of bold colour fields and patterns that echo motifs used throughout the earlier prints in the series. Bright yellow areas intersect with black linear elements, while red and white stripes add visual rhythm to the composition. These graphic devices remain consistent with earlier works in the Bull Profile series, yet here they dominate the composition as the bull itself becomes increasingly minimal. Produced using lithograph, screenprint, and linecut on Arjomari paper, Bull V continues Lichtenstein’s exploration of how far a figurative subject can be reduced before it dissolves into pure abstraction.