Explosion - Postcard Edition

Roy Lichtenstein (1923 – 1997, American) “Explosion” Postcard Edition is an offset lithograph in color on white thick coated paper with full margins that was printed in 1994. It is initialed by the artist in black marker in the lower right and is signed on the verso. The postcard was published in 1994 for the exhibition, "The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein" at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (Rare when signed.) Image copyright © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. The postcard measures 5 7/8 x 4 1/8 inches, and it has been placed in a 7 x 5-inch double sided acrylic case for display.

Lichtenstein’s “Explosion” (1967) is a limited-edition color lithograph from ‘Portfolio 9’ measuring 22 x 17 inches. According to the Tate Modern gallery label for the work of art, “beginning in 1962, Lichtenstein borrowed images of explosions from popular war comics for use in his paintings.” The Cuban Missile Crisis had taken place in 1962, and the world was faced with the threat of annihilation by nuclear explosion in the mid-1960’s. Notable features of this Pop Art image include the artist’s use of flat primary colors, Benday dots, outlines, and schematic drawing. [Literature/catalogue raisonne: cf. Corlett 49 for the full-size, editioned lithograph.] An A.P. edition of ‘Explosion’ was sold at auction in April 2018 by Philips for $30,000.