Juxtaposition
Roy Lichtenstein vs. David Hockney
Interior with Chair from the Leo Castelli 90th Birthday Portfolio
Roy Lichtenstein
Hamilton-Selway Fine Art
These two prints offer a fascinating study in contrasting approaches to depicting interior spaces and furniture, reflecting the distinct artistic philosophies of two major figures in contemporary art.
Lichtenstein’s “Interior with Chair” exemplifies his signature Pop Art aesthetic, transforming a domestic scene into a highly stylised, almost cartoon-like composition. The work employs his characteristic Ben-Day dots (those small halftone patterns borrowed from commercial printing), bold primary colours, and clean, geometric forms. The space feels deliberately artificial and flattened, as if we’re looking at a comic strip panel rather than a real room. Every element – from the potted plant to the architectural details – is reduced to essential graphic elements, creating a sense of order and predictability that reflects consumer culture’s sanitised vision of home life.
In stark contrast, Hockney’s “Two Pembroke Studio Chairs” pulses with energy and movement through its dynamic use of cross-hatching and bold, expressive line work. The composition feels almost chaotic compared to Lichtenstein’s controlled precision, with overlapping planes and vigorous mark-making that suggests the artist’s hand at work. The chairs themselves seem to vibrate within the space, surrounded by energetic red hatching that gives the entire scene a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. This reflects Hockney’s ongoing exploration of perception and his interest in how we actually experience spaces – not as flat, static images, but as dynamic environments full of visual complexity.
The juxtaposition reveals fundamentally different attitudes towards representation and modern life. Where Lichtenstein presents a cool, ironic commentary on mass-produced imagery and standardised living, Hockney offers a more personal, emotionally engaged vision that celebrates the act of looking and making. One feels mechanically reproduced despite being hand-made; the other thrums with artistic energy and human presence.
