Nude in the Woods, 1980: Print by Lichtenstein from the Expressionist Woodcut series

Roy Lichtenstein’s Nude in the Woods, 1980, depicts a standing female figure with her arms raised and hands open, rendered through bold outlines and simplified forms. The head is angular, defined by strong black lines that shape the face and features. A bright blue stripe along the right side of the cheek and a vivid blue eye add contrast within the otherwise limited palette. The hair appears spiked and stylised, composed of grey and white blocks that emphasise the graphic structure of the figure. Across the body, Lichtenstein introduces bands of blue and white stripes that divide the torso and create areas of tonal variation, while pale blue shapes add further definition along the right side of the figure.

 

Behind the figure, the background is filled with a textured field of colour composed of varying shades of blue, grey, and green. This layered surface contrasts with the sharply defined lines of the figure, giving the composition depth while maintaining the bold graphic clarity characteristic of the series. Executed as a woodcut with embossing on Arches Cover paper, Nude in the Woods belongs to Lichtenstein’s Expressionist Woodcut series of 1980. In these works, the artist reinterprets the dramatic contrasts and carved textures associated with German Expressionist prints through his own distinctive Pop Art vocabulary.