Lichtenstein (July)

Roy Lichtenstein’s nascent phase emphasises the surfaces and contours of houses, whether the burnt orange Federation of ‘Marshall Street Ivanhoe’ or the heritage suavity of ‘Fitzgibbon Street Parkville’. He finds his path with roll-on impressions, so nothing prepares us for Phase Two, dwellings with words. Cream-brick elegance of ‘Ellesmere Parade Rosanna’ contends with pop-up GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, SOLD in speckled matt. His transcendent ‘Springvale Road Forest Hill’ (HEY! IT’S OUR JULY SALE!) rightly lives in the NGV. Did his work become decadent? Or simply sentimental, once the market opened up, e.g. the unprincipled ‘Epsom Road Ascot Vale’ (GO BOMBERS!)?