Cathedral #6 State I: Print by Roy Lichtenstein

  • Cathedral #6, State I, 1969, Roy Lichtenstein
    Cathedral #6, State I, 1969
    Lithograph on Special Arjomari paper, sheet: 123.5 x 82.5 cm
    Edition of 13; plus 1 RTP
    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
     
    BACK TO: CATHEDRAL AND HAYSTACK SERIES 
     
    Roy Lichtenstein’s Cathedral #6, State I (1969) offers a rare and revealing stage within the evolution of the Cathedralseries, presenting a more legible and structured interpretation of the façade inspired by Rouen Cathedral series. Executed as a lithograph on Special Arjomari paper, the composition combines a vivid yellow ground with grey Ben-Day dot formations, allowing the architectural framework to emerge with greater clarity than in the final Cathedral #6. The contrast between the dark dot structure and bright field creates a sharper, more immediate visual impact, anchoring the image before it dissolves into abstraction.
     
    As a proof state with a highly limited edition, this work captures Lichtenstein’s process at a critical point of refinement. The cathedral remains recognisable, yet the image is already governed by the logic of repetition and mechanical reproduction that defines the series. Compared to the fully realised Cathedral #6, this state retains a stronger balance between representation and abstraction, making it particularly compelling from both an art historical and collector perspective. 

  • "I wasn't sure pop art or my work would last more than six months." 

    - Roy Lichtenstein

    Ben-Day dots are central to the visual language of Roy Lichtenstein, transforming a commercial printing technique into a defining feature of fine art. Originally used in newspapers and comic books to create shading and colour variation, these dots were designed to be invisible at scale. Lichtenstein reversed this logic by enlarging and isolating them, making the mechanical process itself visible and integral to the image. In works like the Cathedral series, the dots do not just fill space but actively construct form, replacing traditional modelling with a system of repetition and density.