American Indian Theme
6 works
Roy Lichtenstein Cathedral V (C. 79) For Sale
Roy Lichtenstein
Cathedral V (C. 79), 1969
Lithograph
48 5/8 x 32 1/2 in 123.5 x 82.5 cm
Edition
Edition of 75 plus 10 AP
About this work
Roy Lichtenstein’s Cathedral V (C. 79) extends his 1969 Cathedral series, a body of work that pushes the limits of perception, reproduction, and abstraction. In this print, Lichtenstein deploys his signature Ben-Day dot technique, layering dense black and yellow dots to create a flickering image that oscillates between figuration and abstraction. The façade of a Gothic cathedral emerges only through careful, sustained looking, its vertical spires and pointed arches buried within a field of mechanical dots.Unlike the airy luminosity of Cathedral I or the stark monochrome of Cathedral III, Cathedral V relies on a high-contrast palette that intensifies the optical vibration. The black and yellow, when overlaid, produce a surface that appears both flat and dynamic, simultaneously mechanical and suggestively architectural. The cathedral exists here not as a solid structure but as an unstable presence, dissolving into the very means of its reproduction.Lichtenstein’s cathedrals are frequently compared to Monet’s famous Rouen Cathedral series (1892–1894), in which the Impressionist painted the Gothic façade under changing conditions of light and atmosphere. Where Monet dissolved architecture into natural light, Lichtenstein dissolves it into the rigid codes of mass production: dots, grids, and mechanical overlays. In doing so, he translates the subject of divine permanence into the language of modern media.Cathedral V in particular underscores the meta-commentary on creation and perception that runs throughout Lichtenstein’s practice. The work calls attention to how images are constructed—whether through paint and light in Monet’s time or through industrial dots in Lichtenstein’s. The viewer’s perception becomes the true medium of the artwork, as the cathedral reveals and conceals itself depending on the eye’s distance and focus.By employing a reductive system of dots to render a subject historically laden with spiritual and cultural weight, Lichtenstein creates a tension between the sacred and the banal, between transcendence and mass reproducibility. The cathedral becomes both a monument and a pattern, both an emblem of eternity and a fleeting optical illusion.With Cathedral V, Lichtenstein closes in on the paradox of Pop Art: the elevation of ordinary or mechanical processes to the realm of fine art. Here, the permanence of Gothic architecture is reimagined as a temporary flicker in the field of modern perception—a sacred image transformed into a commentary on the very act of seeing.For more information or to buy Cathedral V (C. 79) by Roy Lichtenstein, contact our galleries using the form below.
Price on Application
Auction History
Cathedral VI, from the Cathedral Series · Roy Lichtenstein · Heritage Auctions · 2024-12 · $12,500
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More series by Roy Lichtenstein
About the Cathedral Series
Roy Lichtenstein Cathedral Prints For Sale
Roy Lichtenstein Cathedral prints for sale at Guy Hepner Gallery, New York. The Cathedral series (1969) stands alongside the Haystacks as one of Lichtenstein's most direct and sustained engagements with Monet's series paintings, applying his signature Pop graphic vocabulary to one of the most celebrated subjects in Western art: the Rouen Cathedral façade, which Monet painted more than thirty times between 1892 and 1894.
The Concept
Monet's Rouen Cathedral paintings were a landmark investigation into the effects of light on architectural surface — the stone façade dissolving into colour and atmosphere across different times of day and seasons of the year. Lichtenstein's Cathedral series converts that dissolution into the language of commercial printing: flat colour fields, halftone dot simulation of tonal gradation, and the hard black outline that defines his Pop graphic method. Where Monet's surfaces were built from thousands of individual brushstrokes, Lichtenstein's are composed of mechanically regular Ben-Day dots.
The resulting works are among the most architecturally complex in Lichtenstein's print output. The intricate Gothic tracery of the Rouen façade — arches, niches, sculptural detail — provides a richer graphic structure than the Haystack series, requiring more extensive dot patterning and a wider range of tonal values. They represent a significant technical achievement within his print career.
The Prints
The Cathedral series was published as a portfolio of six screenprints, each rendering the façade in a different colour scheme — from warm golden ochres to cool blues, and including a near-monochrome grey version. As with the Haystacks, the format mirrors Monet's serial method while transforming its visual language entirely. All are large-format screenprints on quality paper stock with Lichtenstein's characteristic flat graphic treatment.
The Cathedral portfolio as a complete suite is substantially rarer than individual impressions and historically commands a premium. The six-print suite is particularly sought by institutions and collectors building definitive Lichtenstein holdings.
The six prints vary in colour palette and graphical complexity. Certain editions have demonstrated stronger collector preference; contact Guy Hepner for current guidance.
Standard flat-colour screenprint condition considerations apply: UV exposure, handling, and environmental storage all affect the primary colour fields and dot areas. Request a full condition report with UV examination.
Hand-signed, pencil-numbered examples carry premiums over unsigned impressions.
Authentication
Cathedral prints are authenticated via the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation catalogue raisonné (Corlett). Guy Hepner provides full provenance documentation for all works.
Acquire Cathedral Prints at Guy Hepner
Contact our New York gallery at 177 Tenth Avenue to discuss current availability, condition, and acquisition guidance for works from the Cathedral series.
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.