Cathedral #5, 1969: Lithograph on paper by Roy Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein’s Cathedral #5, 1969, marks one of the most visually striking iterations within the series, translating the structure of Rouen Cathedral series into a bold contrast of black and yellow Ben-Day dots. Executed as a lithograph on Special Arjomari paper, the composition intensifies the optical effect seen in earlier works, using high-contrast colour to sharpen the cathedral’s presence while still maintaining its fragmented, shifting quality. The façade emerges more assertively here, yet remains dependent on the viewer’s perception, appearing to flicker between clarity and dissolution as the eye moves across the surface.

 

This work demonstrates Lichtenstein’s most confident handling of the dot system as both image and structure. The dense black formations define the architectural framework, while the yellow ground energises the composition, creating a sense of depth without traditional modelling. The result is a highly controlled yet dynamic surface, where repetition and variation work together to construct an image that feels simultaneously mechanical and atmospheric. Published by Gemini G.E.L. in a tightly controlled edition, Cathedral #5 stands as a culmination of the series’ exploration of perception, reproduction, and abstraction.