The Kiss was among the first "comic strip" paintings for which Roy Lichtenstein became instantly famous in art circles. He'd always been fascinated by the work of cartoonists and saw many parallels between their styles and those of modern "Fine Arts" masters. It was only when he plumbed the depths of comic-strips-as-art that he found his unique style. If it was delightfully ironic that Lichtenstein rose to prominence on the strength of replicating anonymous pulp techniques (such as half-tones, Ben-day dots and large blocks of the standard reds, yellows, blues and black used in inexpensive four-color printing), well, that just added to the humor factor, didn't it?
Here we have your basic blond vixen, complete with the expected red dress, nail polish and lipstick, and she is doing ... something ... with her fly-boy suitor. Is he leaving? Did he just arrive? Is she happy or sad over the ramifications of either scenario? Most importantly, where is the kiss in The Kiss? We're seeing a little peck on the cheek, when Blondie looks to be fully capable of a juicy lip-lock. Perhaps what's got her so preoccupied is fear of smearing her perfect lipstick - ? Conflicting clues! Roy, you funny man, you - was this another of your sly jokes?
This painting is paired with Pierre-Auguste Renoir's La Liseuse (1877) in the exhibition Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein. Points to ponder: both canvases place great emphasis on color and surface texture, and neither woman is acknowledging our presence. In fact, both women seem quite oblivious to everything except that which might be happening in their respective minds.
About the Exhibition:
"Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein" is on view from April 8 through September 24, 2006 at the Experience Music Project, 325 5th Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109 (on the Seattle Center Campus; Telephone 206.367.5483 or 1.877.367.5483). The EMP is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Extended summer hours (effective Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend) are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day. "Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein" is a ticketed exhibition. Information on pricing and online purchasing of tickets is available here.
Here we have your basic blond vixen, complete with the expected red dress, nail polish and lipstick, and she is doing ... something ... with her fly-boy suitor. Is he leaving? Did he just arrive? Is she happy or sad over the ramifications of either scenario? Most importantly, where is the kiss in The Kiss? We're seeing a little peck on the cheek, when Blondie looks to be fully capable of a juicy lip-lock. Perhaps what's got her so preoccupied is fear of smearing her perfect lipstick - ? Conflicting clues! Roy, you funny man, you - was this another of your sly jokes?
This painting is paired with Pierre-Auguste Renoir's La Liseuse (1877) in the exhibition Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein. Points to ponder: both canvases place great emphasis on color and surface texture, and neither woman is acknowledging our presence. In fact, both women seem quite oblivious to everything except that which might be happening in their respective minds.
About the Exhibition:
"Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein" is on view from April 8 through September 24, 2006 at the Experience Music Project, 325 5th Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109 (on the Seattle Center Campus; Telephone 206.367.5483 or 1.877.367.5483). The EMP is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Extended summer hours (effective Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend) are 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM every day. "Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein" is a ticketed exhibition. Information on pricing and online purchasing of tickets is available here.