Lithograph on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/roy-lichtenstein-1508" aria-label="More by Roy Lichtenstein" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Roy Lichtenstein</a>
Explosion
Presented by the Museum of Modern Art, New York 1976
Ben-Day dots
dynamism
emotions, concepts and ideas
formal qualities
history
military
objects
social comment
society
Vietnam War, 1964-75
war
weapon, firing / explosion
weapons
<p>Beginning in 1962 Lichtenstein borrowed images of explosions from popular war comics for use in his paintings. The subject embodies the revolutionary nature of Pop art and suggests the very real threat of annihilation by nuclear explosion that was prevalent at that time (the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in 1962). But Lichtenstein was also interested in the way dynamic events like explosions were depicted in the stylised format of comic book illustration. This print incorporates many of the hallmarks of his early painting style: flat primary colours, Benday dots, outlines and schematic drawing.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
paper print lithograph
13 July 2019 – 4 January 2020
2020-01-04
13 July 2019 – 7 September 2019
2019-09-07
2019-07-13
Grundy Art Gallery (Blackpool, UK)
28 September 2019 – 4 January 2020
2020-01-04
2019-09-28
Hatton Gallery (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
2019-07-13
ARTIST ROOMS 2019: Roy Lichtenstein
Loan-out
Explosion
image: 562 × 435 mm
Presented by the Museum of Modern Art, New York 1976
<p>Beginning in 1962 Lichtenstein borrowed images of explosions from popular war comics for use in his  <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>paintings</span></a>. The subject embodies the revolutionary  nature of <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/pop-art" title="Glossary definition for 'Pop art'"><span>Pop art</span></a> and suggests the very real  threat of annihilation by nuclear explosion that  was prevalent at that time (the Cuban Missile  Crisis occurred in 1962). But Lichtenstein was  also interested in the way dynamic events like  explosions were depicted in the stylised format of  comic book illustration. This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/print" title="Glossary definition for 'Print'"><span>print</span></a> incorporates  many of the hallmarks of his early painting style:  flat primary colours, Benday dots, outlines and  schematic <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawing</span></a>.</p>
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2004-09-03T00:00:00
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Ben-Day dots dynamism emotions, concepts and ideas formal qualities history military objects social comment society Vietnam War, 1964-75 war weapon, firing / explosion weapons