Road Before the Forest, 1985: Lithograph, woodcut and screenprint by Roy Lichtenstein

  • Road Before the Forest, 1985, is. a play on abstract expressionism through the brushstrokes

    Road Before the Forest, 1985

    Lithograph, woodcut, and screenprint on Arches 88 paper

    Sheet: 101.9 x 140.7 cm, Edition of 60; plus 11 AP, 1 RTP, 1 PPII, 3 GEL, 1 C, 5 SP

    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

    BACK TO: LANDSCAPE SERIES
     
    Road Before the Forest, 1985, is a landscape print by Roy Lichtenstein from his Landscapes series that translates painterly brushstrokes into a structured Pop Art composition. The trees are formed from layered shades of green, built from smaller strokes of green and white that gradually define their outlines. Behind them, broad gestural marks create a dense background, while blue and grey strokes loosely suggest the tree trunks, giving the scene a sense of depth without abandoning its abstract qualities.
     
    In the foreground, softer tones of coral, light blue and touches of green form the ground, guiding the eye toward the cooler blue horizon. Produced using lithograph, woodcut and screenprint on Arches 88 paper, the print reflects Lichtenstein’s continued interest in transforming expressive painting techniques into precise, graphic compositions. The result is a stylised landscape that balances abstraction with recognisable natural forms.

  • "My work isn't about form. It's about seeing."

    - Roy Lichtenstein

    In this print, expressive brushstrokes appear spontaneous, yet they are carefully constructed through precise printmaking techniques. Bold gestures are built from flat colour, clean outlines and layered processes such as lithograph, screenprint and woodcut. This contrast between energetic strokes and controlled printing creates a tension between painterly expression and mechanical reproduction, a key theme in Lichtenstein’s work.