Bull III

Bull III, created in 1973 by Roy Lichtenstein; Daniel Freeman; Ron McPherson; Robbin Geiger; Gemini G.E.L., is a sophisticated example of post-war American printmaking. This work, rendered in color lithograph, screenprint, and line-cut on Arjomari wove paper, is the third piece in Lichtenstein’s transformative Bull Profile and Bull Head Series (1973). The series systematically dismantles the classic, naturalistic depiction of a bull figure, progressively replacing anatomical form with the graphic vocabulary of mechanical reproduction.

Lichtenstein’s conceptual approach is inherently Pop, analyzing how iconic imagery can be flattened and abstracted through commercial printing techniques. Bull III marks a significant step in this deconstructive process, moving away from the full, curved lines established in earlier parts of the series toward fractured shapes and dense blocks of color. The medium itself is complex, requiring the precision and expertise of the technicians at Gemini G.E.L., who combined three distinct print methods to achieve the layered texture and vivid coloration characteristic of the final image. This ambitious integration of techniques demonstrates the advanced state of printmaking achieved in the United States during this period.

Executed within the heart of the 1951 to 1975 artistic epoch, the work reflects Lichtenstein's continuous exploration of art historical prototypes filtered through his signature industrialized aesthetic. By breaking down the recognizable form of the bull into a few powerful, graphic strokes, the artist challenges traditional representations of power and tradition, reducing them to signs and symbols of communication. This piece, which stands as a key example of the technical and conceptual innovations fostered by the G.E.L. studio, is proudly preserved within the collection of the National Gallery of Art.