Haystack #2, 1969: Print by Lichtenstein from the Haystack series

  • Haystack #2 1969 is a haystack print by the artist Roy Lichtenstein
    Haystack #2, 1969
    Lithograph and screenprint on BFK Rives paper, sheet: 52.7 x 77.6 cm
    Edition of 100; plus 10 AP, 1 RTP, 1 PPII, 3 GEL, 1 C
    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
    BACK TO: HAYSTACK & CATHEDRAL SERIES
     
    Roy Lichtenstein’s Haystack #2, 1969, is a limited edition lithograph and screenprint from the celebrated Haystack series, reinterpreting Claude Monet’s iconic motif through the visual language of Pop Art. Using a restricted palette of red and black, Lichtenstein employs his signature Ben-Day dots to construct the image, allowing the form of the haystacks to emerge through subtle shifts in density and contrast rather than traditional line or shading.
     
    By reducing Monet’s atmospheric compositions to a graphic, mechanical surface, Lichtenstein transforms Impressionist light and colour into a controlled, reproducible system. The interplay between red and black creates a striking optical tension, demonstrating how minimal colour variation can alter depth, mood, and perception. The result is a print that is both a homage to art history and a sharp commentary on image reproduction in modern visual culture.

  • "In terms of exactness of placement and register, the prints are better, because they can be better controlled in this medium"

    - Roy Lichtenstein

    Throughout his career, Lichtenstein draws directly from art history, recontextualising canonical imagery through the lens of Pop Art and mechanical reproduction. In these prints, Monet’s atmospheric brushwork is replaced by the precision of Ben-Day dots, transforming the fleeting effects of light into a controlled, repeatable system. The series moves through a progression of colour states, echoing Monet’s exploration of time and light while asserting Lichtenstein’s interest in standardisation, reproduction, and visual clarity.