American Indian Theme
6 works
Roy Lichtenstein Brushstroke (C. 45) For Sale
Roy Lichtenstein
Brushstroke (C. 45), 1967
Screen print
22 x 31 in 55.9 x 78.7 cm
Edition
Edition of 300
About this work
Roy Lichtenstein’s Brushstroke (C. 45), 1967, is one of the artist’s most iconic contributions to his ongoing interrogation of painting, representation, and the act of creation itself. Executed as a screen print, the work transforms what would traditionally be a spontaneous, expressive gesture—a painter’s brushstroke—into a flat, mechanical, and reproducible image. By doing so, Lichtenstein both celebrates and critiques the myths of artistic genius and originality that dominated modernist discourse.At first glance, the print appears to capture a bold, dynamic flick of paint: sweeping arcs of black and cream, interlaced with a red and yellow swath that suggests energy and momentum. Yet, upon closer inspection, the illusion of spontaneity collapses. Instead of textured impasto or gestural flourish, the image is constructed from Lichtenstein’s hallmark Ben-Day dots, heavy outlines, and flat planes of color. What should be a visceral, physical trace of the artist’s hand is instead a mediated, mass-produced sign of a brushstroke.This paradox lies at the heart of Brushstroke. By rendering the most fundamental unit of painting—the stroke of the brush—as an object of reproduction, Lichtenstein makes a meta-commentary on art’s very process of creation. The work becomes self-reflexive: a painting (or print) about the act of painting, a gesture about gestures. In turning the brushstroke into an icon, Lichtenstein strips it of its expressive authenticity while simultaneously immortalizing it as a symbol.The piece also positions itself within a dialogue with Abstract Expressionism, the movement that defined American painting in the 1940s and 1950s. Artists like Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Franz Kline had elevated the brushstroke to a performative, almost spiritual act—a pure extension of the artist’s psyche. Lichtenstein, by contrast, mechanizes and commodifies that act, recontextualizing it within Pop Art’s fascination with mass culture and reproduction. The brushstroke is no longer a direct trace of the self but rather a cultural signifier, as reproducible as a comic strip panel or an advertisement.In this way, Brushstroke is both ironic and reverent. It pokes fun at the solemnity of Abstract Expressionism while acknowledging the enduring power of its gestures. The scale and boldness of Lichtenstein’s rendering imbue the stroke with monumentality, even as its flatness undermines any claim to authenticity. It is a paradox that defines Lichtenstein’s practice: by emptying the gesture of its original meaning, he allows it to take on new significance as commentary.Ultimately, Brushstroke (C. 45) can be read as a witty and incisive reflection on what it means to create, to replicate, and to ascribe meaning to marks on a surface. It elevates the brushstroke to the status of subject matter, simultaneously demystifying the act of painting and situating it within the broader circulation of images in contemporary culture.For more information or to buy Brushstroke (C. II 45) by Roy Lichtenstein, contact our galleries using the form below.
Price on Application
Auction History
Brushstroke Still Life with Lamp · Roy Lichtenstein · Christie's · 2006-10 · $997,738
Brushstroke Still Life With Lamp · Roy Lichtenstein · Sotheby's · 2007-06 · $551,180
Brushstroke Still Life with Lamp · Roy Lichtenstein · Christie's · 2024-11 · $453,600
Brush Stroke, Still Life with Lamp · Roy Lichtenstein · Sotheby's · 2021-03 · $434,058
Brushstroke still life with lamp · Roy Lichtenstein · Christie's · 2020-12 · $350,940
More from this series
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Blue Face , from Brushstroke Figure Series (C. 226)
1989
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Brushstroke (C. II 5)
1965
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Brushstroke Canvas (C.234)
1989
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Brushstroke Still Life With Box (C. 308A)
1997
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Brushstroke Still Life With Coffee Pot (C. 308B)
1997
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Brushstroke Still Life With Lamp (C. 308B)
1997
Roy Lichtenstein
Green Face, from Brushstrokes (C. 232)
1989
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Nude From Brushstroke Figures (C. 233)
1989
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Roads Collar , from Brushstroke Figures Series (C. 288)
1989
More series by Roy Lichtenstein
About Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein prints for sale and Roy Lichtenstein paintings for sale at Guy Hepner Gallery, New York. Our inventory spans lithographs, screenprints, and unique works from his most collected series: Brushstrokes, Reflections, Nudes, Interiors, Haystacks, Cathedral, Entablature, and American Indian Theme — all with full provenance and Corlett catalogue raisonné references. We also acquire Lichtenstein. Free valuations available.
Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) is the defining figure of American Pop Art and one of the most actively traded artists on the post-war and contemporary market. His bold graphic language — Ben-Day dots, black outlines, primary palettes drawn from comic books and advertising — is among the most instantly recognisable in twentieth-century art. Born in New York City, he was exhibited by Leo Castelli Gallery from 1962 and worked until his death in September 1997, producing one of the most extensively documented print catalogues of any artist of his generation.
Roy Lichtenstein Art For Sale
Roy Lichtenstein art for sale spans signed prints, paintings, and unique works across his full catalogue. His most collected categories: signed and numbered screenprints and lithographs from the major series, unique works on paper, and large-format canvas paintings. The auction benchmark was set when Masterpiece (1962) sold for $165 million in a private transaction in 2017, and Nurse (1964) achieved $95.4 million at Christie's New York in 2015. Major print series regularly achieve $100,000–$2 million at Sotheby's, Christie's, and Phillips.
Roy Lichtenstein Prints For Sale
The most liquid and accessible segment of his market. Working with Gemini G.E.L., Petersburg Press, and Castelli Graphics, Lichtenstein produced lithographs, screenprints, woodcuts, and relief prints across three decades. Key series at Guy Hepner:
- Brushstrokes (1965–66) — Pop satire of Abstract Expressionist gesture; his most conceptually celebrated series
- Haystacks (1969) — Monet homage in Ben-Day dots and primary colour; his most decorative print subject
- Cathedral — Rouen Cathedral reworked through his commercial-art graphic vocabulary
- American Indian Theme (1980) — a major suite exploring Indigenous American motifs
- Reflections (1988–94) — canvases-within-canvases; his most technically intricate prints; strongest late-career market
- Nudes (1994–97) — figurative final series synthesising his full graphic vocabulary
- Interiors (1990s) — consumer culture imagery from furniture and décor catalogues; a distinctly American subject
- Peace Through Chemistry — Science and Technology series; bold, graphic, institutionally held
Signed impressions command significant premiums over unsigned editions. Corlett catalogue raisonné reference and publisher's certificate documentation are essential for any acquisition.
Roy Lichtenstein Original Art For Sale
Roy Lichtenstein original art for sale — unique paintings on canvas — represents the rarest category of his output. Major early canvases are primarily in institutional collections; secondary market appearances are concentrated at evening sales at Christie's, Sotheby's, and Phillips. Works on paper and preparatory drawings offer compelling opportunities for collectors seeking unique works with strong Lichtenstein provenance at more accessible price points.
Roy Lichtenstein Prints — Price Guide
- Unsigned secondary series editions: $5,000–$25,000
- Signed lithographs, Haystacks / Cathedral / American Indian Theme: $30,000–$150,000
- Signed screenprints, Brushstrokes / Reflections / Nudes: $40,000–$500,000
- Early 1960s single-sheet works and rare artist's proofs: $100,000+
Sell Roy Lichtenstein Prints — Free Valuation
Guy Hepner actively acquires Roy Lichtenstein prints, paintings, and works on paper from private collections. If you are looking to sell Roy Lichtenstein prints or seeking a current market valuation, contact our New York gallery for a confidential, no-obligation assessment. We handle all series including Brushstrokes, Reflections, Nudes, Haystacks, Cathedral, American Indian Theme, and Interiors.
Interested in adding Roy Lichtenstein to your collection? Contact Guy Hepner Gallery at 177 Tenth Avenue, New York to discuss current inventory and acquisition strategy.