Roy Lichtenstein

Leo Castelli Gallery, New York
Stephen Mazoh & Co., Inc., New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above in October 1992

This work is in good condition. There is evidence of faint skinning to the paper, which appears original as it is consistent to areas where it appears as though the artist reworked some areas. Otherwise, the work appears in very good overall condition and there are no apparent condition problems with this work. Framed under Plexiglas.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Roy Lichtenstein's unbounded creativity assorted with great drollness and irony, altered the scale of these small images projecting them into large screens. These wide disproportioned interiors resulted in a parody of the middle-class dream.

Lichtenstein had already investigated the subject of interior still-lives in Bathroom (1964) and in the early 1970s in his Artist's Studio series inspired by Matisse. In the 1990s Lichtenstein revisited this theme with a different artistic attitude following his Perfect Paintings and Imperfect Paintings series of the 1980s. Interior with Three Yellow Lamps is a classical example of Lichtenstein's fascination with this topic.

The image stylized by Lichtenstein's typical technique depicts ordinary elements of furniture impersonally disposed. The use of primary colors and thick lines flattens the interior into a two dimensional space. Decorating the cool room with a painting of a second simpler interior emphasizes the parodist effect. Although the impression is of a sterile atmosphere, Lichtenstein's genius lies in the ability to infuse his compositions with a sense of extraordinary beauty into the ordinary realm of domesticity.