Composition I

Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) was a leading figure of the American Pop Art movement, alongside Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist and Claes Oldenburg. “Composition I” is one of three musical screenprints published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles, the other two being Composition II and Composition III in 1996. In these prints, Lichtenstein created arrangements of curving and looping musical staves. The musical notations here are no longer fixed on their usual horizontal, linear orientation, but set free. In the vertical format, the notes and curving staves are set against areas of primary colors and Lichtenstein’s signature diagonal lines and dots. Music was one of Lichtenstein’s great loves – he played the flute and saxophone and was particularly interested in jazz. “Roy loved music and the studio was always filled with the sounds he loved. Bach and bebop were his favorites. … And wouldn’t you know, those musical notes found their way into his paintings” (D Lichtenstein, Roy Lichtenstein: Interiors, New York, 2002, p. 21). Composition I responds to the freedom and improvisatory nature of this form of music, as well as pointing to the artist’s own exploration of visual composition.