Lot #849: ROY LICHTENSTEIN - Brushstroke Contest - Color offset lithograph

 

Artist: Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997).
Title: "Brushstroke Contest".
Medium: Color offset lithograph.
Date: Composed 1988.
Dimensions: Overall size: 34 x 24 in. (864 x 610 mm). Image size: 28 1/4 x 22 1/2 in. (718 x 571 mm).
Pricing:
  Starting Price: $1,600
  Reserve Price: N.A.
  Auction Sale Price Estimate: $2,500/3,000
Lot Note(s): Signed in pencil, lower right. Edition size unspecfied, some printed, none distributed. White, medium-weight smooth wove paper. Full margins. Fine impression. Fine condition. Literature/catalogue raisonne: Unknown to Doering/Von der Osten. Not catalogued but existence noted in Corlett.
Comment(s): An extremely rare poster. No auction records located. The contract to produce the posters for the XXIV Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul was awarded to Lloyd Shin of Chicago, who had a gallery in Chicago and a gallery and contacts in Seoul. A number of prominent artists, including Lichtenstein, agreed to create images for the posters. It is unclear what happened but apparently the posters were never distributed, though a number were printed. A few were given to the participating artists. This image was then used by Lichtenstein later in 1988 for a lithograph of the same name, printed in 1989 (Corlett 235). Corlett states (pg.216) that "the image was initially designed for use as a poster for the 24th Olympiad, but it was never used for that purpose. The brushstrokes form the Chinese characters for 'contest'". Published by Lloyd Shin Gallery, Inc. Image © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. [28315-6-1600-NA]