Roy Lichtenstein Crying Girl (C. II 1) For Sale

Roy Lichtenstein, "Crying Girl (C. II 1)", 1963

Roy Lichtenstein's "Crying Girl (C. II 1)" stands as one of the most iconic and commercially significant works from the artist's groundbreaking early 1960s period. Created in 1963 during Lichtenstein's revolutionary exploration of comic book imagery, this lithograph represents a pivotal moment when Pop Art fundamentally challenged the boundaries between high art and popular culture. The work depicts a blonde woman in emotional distress, her face dominated by a single tear and trembling hand, rendered in Lichtenstein's signature Ben-Day dot technique and bold primary color palette. This image has become synonymous with Pop Art itself, embodying the movement's ironic appropriation of mass media imagery.

The market for Lichtenstein's Crying Girl series has demonstrated exceptional strength and sustained collector interest over decades. Works from this series consistently command premium prices at auction, with early prints particularly sought after by institutional collectors and sophisticated private buyers. The 1963 lithograph represents one of Lichtenstein's earliest printmaking ventures, making it especially desirable to connoisseurs seeking museum-quality examples from the artist's formative period. Its relatively limited edition size and the attrition of available examples over six decades have contributed to strong market performance.

For discerning collectors, "Crying Girl (C. II 1)" offers both art historical importance and investment-grade appeal. The work's emotional immediacy, combined with Lichtenstein's cool mechanical technique, creates the tension that defines his greatest achievements. This piece represents an opportunity to acquire a canonical image from twentieth-century art.

Available through Guy Hepner.