Sep 1, 20238 min read

Putting the Pop in Pop Art: A Historical Exploration

Roy Lichtenstein USA (1923-1997). Figures in Landscape, 1977. Oil and magna on canvas. Hanging at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark on a long-term loan. (Image source and copyright: Peter Deleuran).

Pop art was a vibrant artistic movement that emerged in the 1950s, celebrating everyday consumer culture and the mundane, often with a cheeky or ironic twist. It turned soup cans, comic book heroes, and celebrities into bold, colorful statements, challenging traditional notions of "highbrow art" by transforming the ordinary into extraordinary visual spectacles.

Part 1: Emergence of a Cultural Phenomenon Within the history of art, certain movements boldly stand out as statements of their time, encapsulating the spirit of an era. One such movement that continues to intrigue and captivate is Pop Art. Born from the convergence of mass media, consumer culture, and artistic rebellion, Pop Art emerged as a force that challenged traditional artistic norms and celebrated the mundane.

Pop Art looks out into the world. It doesn't look like a painting of something, it looks like the thing itself.

Roy Lichtenstein

Origins in Post-War Context The roots of Pop Art can be traced back to the post-World War II landscape, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Emerging in the mid-1950s, Pop Art was a direct response to the cultural shifts brought about by the proliferation of consumer goods, advertising, and the rise of mass media. Artists of this movement sought to mirror the changing social fabric by incorporating elements from popular culture into their works.

Andy Warhol's Golden Mushroom Soup, from Campbell's Soup, originally created in 1969. This is a later "Sunday B. Morning" silkscreen print. 89 cm x 58 cm. (Image source and copyright: Peter Deleuran - private ownership).

Consumerism and Commodification Central to the Pop Art movement was its fascination with consumer culture. The post-war period witnessed an unprecedented rise in consumerism, with products and advertisements flooding everyday life. Artists like Richard Hamilton in the UK and Andy Warhol in the US saw in this consumerist ethos an opportunity to examine the relationship between art, commodity, and culture. Warhol's iconic "Campbell's Soup Cans" (1961-1962) became emblematic of this approach, depicting an everyday item as a work of art, thus blurring the lines between high and low culture. Due to the popularity, he later produced "Campbell's Soup Cans II" in 1969, with 10 soup variations - one of which is depicted above (Golden Mushroom).

"You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you

suddenly thrill you".

Andy Warhol

The Enigma of Andy Warhol No exploration of Pop Art is complete without a spotlight on the enigmatic figure of Andy Warhol. Often referred to as the "Pope of Pop", Warhol became synonymous with the movement due to his unique approach to art and celebrity culture. Warhol's studio, "The Factory", was a hub of creativity and experimentation, serving as a meeting ground for artists, musicians, and socialites. His fascination with celebrity and consumer culture manifested in works like "Marilyn Diptych" (1962), which depicted Marilyn Monroe's image in a repeating grid, highlighting the mass production of fame.

"Marilyn Monroe" by Andy Warhol, here in a "Sunday B Morning" variation. Silkscreen print, 91.5 cm x 91.5 cm. (Image source and copyright: Peter Deleuran - private ownership).

"In August '62 I started doing silkscreens. I wanted something stronger that gave more of an assembly line effect. With silkscreening you pick a photograph, blow it up, transfer it in glue onto silk, and then roll ink across it so the ink goes through the silk but not through the glue. That way you get the same image, slightly different each time. It was all so simple quick and chancy. I was thrilled with it. When Marilyn Monroe happened to die that month, I got the idea to make screens of her beautiful face - the first Marilyns".

Andy Warhol

In 2022, Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" set a new record, fetching a staggering $195 million at Christie's charity sale. In a lightning-fast bidding war lasting less than four minutes, Warhol's 1964 silk-screen portrait of the actress, secured its place as the highest-priced American artwork ever sold at auction, surpassing Basquiat's 2017 record-setting skull painting. (See the auction in the video below).

Andy Warhol's "Shot Sage Blue Marilyn" selling at Christie's in 2022. (Source: YouTube).

Warhol's oeuvre extended beyond paintings, as he ventured into film and music as well. His film "Chelsea Girls" (1966) and his management of the rock band The Velvet Underground showcased his multidisciplinary approach and his desire to integrate different facets of popular culture into his artistic expression.

"Chelsea Girls", an experimental underground film from 1966 by Andy Warhol. (Source: YouTube).

The Comic Aesthetic: Roy Lichtenstein While Warhol celebrated the ubiquity of consumer goods, Roy Lichtenstein embraced the visual language of comics and advertisements. Lichtenstein's iconic works often featured bold primary colors, Ben-Day dots, and speech bubbles – hallmarks of comic book art.

"M-Maybe". A 1965 pop Art painting by Roy Lichtenstein. Silkscreen print, 91.5 cm x 91.5 cm. (Image source and copyright: Peter Deleuran - private ownership).

His piece "Whaam!" (1963) is a prime example of his engagement with this aesthetic, depicting a dramatic aerial combat scene in a style reminiscent of comic book panels. Lichtenstein's artworks invited viewers to reevaluate the distinction between "high" and "low" art, challenging the notion of artistic hierarchy.

Roy Lichtenstein in front of one of his paintings at an exhibition in Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Holland. 3rd of November 1967. (Image source: Public Domain).

The Collage Pioneer: Robert Rauschenberg Often associated with the Neo-Dada movement, Rauschenberg defied conventional artistic categories with his innovative approach to materials and media. His "Combines", a term he coined to describe his hybrid works that blurred the boundaries between painting and sculpture, challenged traditional notions of art-making.

Robert Rauschenberg (USA 1925-2008). "Tideline", 1963. Oil and silkscreen on canvas. Hanging at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark on a long-term loan. (Image source and copyright: Peter Deleuran).

Rauschenberg's "Erased de Kooning Drawing" (1953) is a prime example of his groundbreaking attitude. In an act of artistic subversion, he requested a drawing from fellow artist Willem de Kooning only to erase it, questioning the value of creation and destruction. This willingness to push boundaries and experiment was a hallmark of the Pop Art movement.

Robert Rauschenberg and Emptiness | Erased de Kooning Drawing. (Source: YouTube). Part 2: Pop Art Resonance - Expanding Horizons and Shaping Culture

Pop Art's Visual Vocabulary Pop Art's distinctive visual language was not confined to canvas alone. It infiltrated various artistic mediums, from sculpture to photography, from film to fashion, as artists sought to engage with and interpret the pulse of the changing times. This interdisciplinary approach further solidified Pop Art's presence in the cultural consciousness.

Sculpting with Pop: Claes Oldenburg Claes Oldenburg, a pioneer of Pop sculpture, transformed everyday objects into monumental forms that challenged preconceived notions of art and function. His sculptures, such as the colossal "Floor Burger" (1962) and the playful "Giant Three-Way Plug" (1970), were whimsical interpretations of mundane objects. By enlarging and recontextualizing these items, Oldenburg invited viewers to see the familiar in a new light, blurring the boundaries between art and reality.

Exhibition of work by Claes Oldenburg (USA) in Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Holland. Claes Oldenburg standing at his work of art a "Floor Burger". January 16, 1970. (Image source: Public Domain).

“Pop Art is the inedible raised to the unspeakable.”

Leonard Baskin

Frames of Realism: Photorealism The photorealism movement, often considered an offshoot of Pop Art, delved into the intricate realm of hyper-realistic painting. Artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes recreated everyday scenes with astonishing detail, capturing the essence of the mundane in a hyper-focused manner. This precise approach to representation echoed the themes of consumer culture and media imagery embraced by Pop artists.

Chuck Close "Phil II grey" 173 cm x 137 cm excluding frame, 1982. Hanging at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, in their own collection. Donated by the Pace Gallery, New York. (Image source and copyright: Peter Deleuran).

Screening Pop: Film and Popular Culture The influence of Pop Art reached beyond traditional artistic media to infiltrate the world of film and advertising. Movies like Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" (1971) featured set designs and visual elements that echoed the bold and graphic aesthetics of Pop art. Additionally, Pop art's fascination with celebrity culture and consumerism found resonance in advertisements, reflecting the movement's impact on the collective visual language.

Trailer for the film "A Clockwork Orange", from 1971 by Stanley Kubrick. (Source: YouTube).

Consumer Culture and Critique As Pop art blossomed, it began to reflect not only the allure of consumer culture but also its darker undercurrents. Artists channeled their creativity to critique the superficiality, materialism, and conformity that the movement both celebrated and criticized.

Warhol's Ambivalence: Disaster Series Andy Warhol's exploration of consumerism took a darker turn with his "Disaster" series, which depicted images of car crashes, electric chairs, and other gruesome subjects. Through this series, Warhol questioned the desensitization of society to violence and disaster, exposing the dichotomy between fascination and repulsion.

Portrait of Andy Warhol himself at the Jewish Museum, 1980. (Image source: Public Domain).

Lichtenstein's Subversion: "Gun in America" Roy Lichtenstein's "Gun in America" series subverted the glamorization of violence, presenting stark visuals of guns while juxtaposing them with text that questioned the American obsession with weaponry. By merging the imagery of popular comics with social commentary, Lichtenstein drew attention to the contradictions inherent in American culture.

Part 3: Pop Art's Enduring Echo - Legacy, Influence, and Contemporary Relevance

Legacy in a New Light Pop Art's legacy is not confined to its heyday; it lives on in the artistic approaches and perspectives it inspired. The movement's fusion of high and low culture, its critique of consumerism, and its celebration of the mundane had a profound impact on subsequent generations of artists.

Neo-Pop: Bridging Eras The 1980s saw the emergence of Neo-Pop, a movement that drew inspiration from its Pop Art predecessor while navigating the complexities of a new era. Artists like Jeff Koons embraced consumer culture and mass media, producing works that engaged with celebrity, kitsch, and a sense of the uncanny. Koons's "Balloon Dog" sculptures and larger-than-life installations embody the essence of Neo-Pop, continuing the conversation started by the pioneers of Pop art.

Photograph of Balloon Dog (Blue) by Jeff Koons at The Broad in Los Angeles, CA, US. Original work: 1994-2000. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 4.0. Used under the Fair Use Law, to illustrate the article and provide visual context.

Digital Age Influence: A New Canvas The advent of the digital age has redefined the way we create, consume, and perceive art. Pop Art's fascination with media imagery and consumer culture found new resonance in the era of the internet and social media. Artists like Shepard Fairey embraced the digital medium to create iconic works such as the "Hope" poster, which became emblematic of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Fairey's approach mirrors the Pop art ethos, transforming mass-produced images into potent symbols of cultural and political significance.

Barack Obama "Hope" poster, by Shepard Fairey. April 11, 2009. Based on a photo taken by Mannie Garcia for Associated Press. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Used under the Fair Use Law, to illustrate the article and provide visual context.

Conclusion: A Timeless Dialogue From its inception as a reaction to consumer culture - to its expansion into new mediums and its influence on contemporary artists, Pop art remains an eternal well of creative inspiration. Its celebration of the everyday, its subversion of artistic norms, and its ability to mirror the pulse of society make it a movement that defies worldly confines. So, I will leave you with the words of Roy Lichtenstein:

"Pop Art is industrial painting. I think the meaning of my work is that it is industrial - it’s what all the world will soon become. Europe will be the same way, soon, it won’t be American - it will be universal".