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Lichtenstein’s work is recognizable for its signature style that borrows from consumer culture, particularly comic books and advertising. He used bold, primary colors and thick, crisp outlines. His artwork was innovative and reinvigorated the American art scene.
Lichtenstein’s “I Love Liberty” also has a story in America’s history. It was produced in conjunction with Norman Lear’s I Love Liberty celebration, held in 1982 in Los Angeles. The I Love Liberty Celebration included appearances by celebrities such as Barabara Streisand singing “America the Beautiful”, Robin Williams doing a monologue as the American flag, and the Muppets performing a sketch about the Second Continental Congress.
In the 1960s, artists wanted to reach a bigger audience for art and they succeeded with screen printing, which made it possible to create more multiples of an image than with traditional printmaking methods such as lithography. Screen printing also allowed artists like Lichtenstein to achieve really bright, bold colors and crisp edges.
Lichtenstein’s “I Love Liberty” combines his iconic style with one of the most recognizable symbols in American culture, producing a modern variation of the Statue of Liberty. The patriotic imagery of the Statue of Liberty is made even more powerful with Lichtenstein’s use of bold colors.