Haystack #6, State II, 1969: Lithograph print by Roy Lichtenstein

  • Haystack #6, State II, 1969 yellow backgroud with blakc ben-day dots
    Haystack #6, State II, 1969
    Lithograph on Special Arjomari paper, sheet: 52.5 x 78.1 cm
    Edition of 13, plus 1 RTP
    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
    BACK TO: HAYSTACK & CATHEDRAL SERIES
     
    Roy Lichtenstein’s Haystack #6, State II, 1969, introduces a striking yellow and black variation within the Haystack series, reinterpreting Claude Monet’s motif through a bold, high-contrast palette. The composition is constructed using Ben-Day dots, with a vivid yellow ground overlaid by dense black forms that define the haystacks. The image appears more immediate and legible than earlier states, as the contrast sharpens the boundaries between figure and ground.
     
    As a rare state proof, this work highlights Lichtenstein’s methodical exploration of colour and print variation. By shifting from darker tonal schemes to a brighter, more luminous palette, he alters both the clarity and mood of the composition. The result is a more radiant and graphic interpretation of the subject, demonstrating how controlled changes in colour can transform perception while maintaining the same underlying structure.

  • “Art doesn’t transform. It just plain forms.”

     

    - Roy Lichtenstein

    Lichtenstein’s approach to printmaking was defined by precision, control, and a deliberate embrace of mechanical processes. Working closely with master printers such as Gemini G.E.L., he meticulously planned each composition in advance, often producing full-scale drawings that were transferred onto plates using techniques like lithography and screenprinting. His signature Ben-Day dots, bold outlines, and flat colour fields were carefully engineered rather than gestural, allowing him to remove the trace of the artist’s hand.