"Is He The Worst Artist In The U.S.?" Life Magazine asked in the headline of a January 1964 feature on Roy Lichtenstein. An influential figure of the 1960's Pop Art movement, he is renowned for his comic book-inspired paintings that challenge traditional notions of high art. The Whaam! recycled bumbag or fanny pack epitomizes his style with its vivid colors and Ben-Day dots. This diptych depicts an intense aerial battle scene. Is Whaam! a criticism of our desensitisation to violence, of the Hollywood romanticisation of warfare, or more of a celebration of fast-paced action and the ‘Pop-Art’ aesthetic?
© Estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2024.