Figures with Rope, 1978: Lithograph by Lichtenstein

  • Figures with Rope, 1978 shows three figures walking across the rope
    Figures with Rope, 1978
    Lithograph on Arches 88 paper, sheet: 55.9 x 76 cm
    Edition of 38; plus 7 AP, 1 TP (on Aquarelle Arches paper), 1 RTP, 1 PPII, 1 SP, 3 GEL, 1 C, 1 Change, Inc
    ©The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
    BACK TO: SURREALIST SERIES
     

    Figures with Rope, 1978, by Roy Lichtenstein presents a fragmented composition featuring three distinct figures arranged in profile. The left figure is constructed from angular, geometric forms, while the central figure appears as a curved profile with a defined eye and lashes. To the right, a more rigid, rectangular form suggests a simplified, abstracted figure. A thick rope runs horizontally across the foreground, anchoring the composition and reinforcing a strong sense of division within the pictorial space.

     

    Produced as a lithograph on Arches 88 paper in collaboration with Gemini G.E.L., the work forms part of Lichtenstein’s Surrealist series. Here, he reinterprets Surrealist imagery through a precise and controlled visual language, replacing spontaneity with structure. Using bold outlines, flat colour, and repeated pattern, Lichtenstein reduces complex forms into graphic signs, prioritising composition and balance over narrative, while continuing his broader dialogue with art history and image-making.

  • "Something terrible can happen in my life, but I wouldn't put it in my art." 

     

    - Roy Lichtenstein

    Lichtenstein’s Surrealist series marks a shift towards more complex and layered compositions, where multiple figures, objects, and references are brought together within a single image. Rather than relying on narrative or symbolism, he organises these elements through structure, repetition, and visual rhythm, creating compositions that feel both deliberate and disjointed. By drawing on Surrealism while stripping away its emotional and psychological depth, Lichtenstein reframes the movement as a system of forms and references, reinforcing his ongoing interest in how images are constructed and understood.