Bull II

Bull II, executed in 1973, is a sophisticated lithograph and line-cut created through the collaborative efforts of artist Roy Lichtenstein and master printers Ron McPherson, Bruce Porter, and Ron Olds, published by Gemini G.E.L. This American print exemplifies the late phase of Pop Art during the period of 1951 to 1975, a pivotal era for graphic experimentation in the United States. Utilizing blue and black ink meticulously applied to Arjomari wove paper, the classification as a print highlights the precision required for its execution.

The choice of medium allows Lichtenstein to achieve the high-contrast, commercial aesthetic central to his artistic oeuvre. By combining the textural subtleties afforded by lithography with the rigid, hard edges inherent in a line-cut, G.E.L. and the artist distilled the complex form of a bull into its most fundamental visual elements. This characteristic distillation process transforms an often-dramatic subject, referencing historical motifs found in Spanish art and Picasso's series, into a flat, graphic icon designed for mechanical reproduction. The deliberately limited palette of blue and black enhances the work's sharp outlines, mimicking the visual language of mass-produced comic book imagery and advertisements that defined Pop Art.

Dating from the early 1970s, this work reflects the growing significance of collaborative printmaking workshops like Gemini G.E.L. in democratizing fine art. During this creative outburst of American printmaking, artists actively explored how industrial reproduction techniques could challenge traditional notions of artistic originality and access. This particular piece, demonstrating the artist's continued fascination with simplifying dynamic subjects, is held in the extensive collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a prime example of Lichtenstein's influential graphic output.