Entablature VII, 1976: Screenprint and collage on paper

  • Roy Lichtenstein Entablature VII (1976), screenprint and collage with embossing, featuring horizontal bands of black, blue and white with Ben-Day dots, Greek key patterning and a textured metallic strip.
    Entablature VII, 1976
    Screenprint and collage with embossing on BFK Rives paper, sheet: 74.1 x 114 cm
    Edition of 30; plus 9 AP, 1 RTP, 1 PPI, 1 A
    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
     
    BACK TO: ENTABLATURE SERIES
     
    Entablature VII, 1976, presents a more graphic and high-contrast interpretation of architectural ornament, structured through sharply defined horizontal bands. Lichtenstein combines bold black fields with areas of Ben-Day dots and a repeating Greek key motif, reinforcing the rhythm and symmetry associated with classical entablatures. The composition is tightly controlled, with each band functioning as a distinct yet interconnected element within the overall structure.
     
    The introduction of a textured metallic strip adds a tactile dimension, contrasting with the flatness of the surrounding printed areas. This interplay between smooth, mechanical surfaces and embossed texture is central to the series, highlighting Lichtenstein’s interest in material and reproduction. By reducing decorative architecture to simplified, repeatable forms, he transforms historical ornament into a contemporary visual language rooted in precision, pattern and industrial process.

  • "I'm excited about seeing things, and I'm interested in the way I think other people saw things."

     

    - Roy Lichtenstein

    The Entablature series (1974–76) represents Lichtenstein’s focused exploration of architectural ornament as both image and material. Drawing from photographs of New York façades, he isolates decorative fragments and restructures them into precise, horizontal compositions defined by repetition, symmetry and pattern. Across the series, techniques such as embossing, metallic foils and layered printing introduce a tactile quality that contrasts with the clean, mechanical aesthetic.