Created in 1973, the Bull Head Series marks a particularly incisive moment in the print practice of Roy Lichtenstein, where the artist pushes reduction to its conceptual limit. Comprising three prints, the series is based on a strikingly simple premise: the progressive construction, and simultaneous deconstruction, of a bull’s head using the most elementary visual vocabulary. What appears at first glance as a playful exercise quickly reveals itself as a rigorous meditation on perception, representation, and the mechanics of image-making.
Introduction
Lichtenstein explored the “progression” of an image from “representation” to “abstraction” in both paintings and prints of the early 1970s. In 1972 he executed the painting Pitcher Triptych. The following year, at Gemini G.E.L. from February to September, he completed the six multimedia prints of the Bull Profile series and the three of the Bull Head series. The painting Cow Triptych (Cow Going Abstract) followed them in 1974, and Lichtenstein periodically returns to the compositional device as in Tel Aviv Museum of Art Mural (1989). Lichtenstein’s bulls relate to Theo van Doesburg’s Composition (The Cow) (1916–17) and to Picasso’s eleven Bull lithographs (1945–46)
In both the Bull Profile and Bull Head series, Lichtenstein combines linecut with lithography and screenprint.
The first print presents a relatively complete and legible image of a bull’s head, constructed through bold black outlines, flat areas of color, and Lichtenstein’s signature graphic clarity. The animal is immediately recognizable, yet already stylized—reduced to a set of essential forms that echo both commercial illustration and modernist simplification. There is a sense of balance between figuration and design, as if the image still belongs to the world of representation.
In the second print, Lichtenstein begins to strip the image down further. Certain elements are isolated, others simplified or displaced, and the composition becomes more schematic. The bull is still present, but its identity now depends on the viewer’s ability to reconstruct it mentally. The image hovers between recognition and abstraction, revealing how little information is actually required to sustain a figurative reading.
By the third print, the transformation is radical. The bull’s head is reduced to a near-abstract configuration of lines, arcs, and color blocks. What remains is less an image of an animal than a visual system—a set of signs that once described a bull but now function independently. The viewer is left with the trace of the subject rather than its depiction, forced to confront the mechanisms through which images are constructed and understood.
Bull Head Series, 1973
Bull Head Series
The complete set of three works
Medium: Lithograph and line-cut in colors (two with screen-printing) on Arjomari paper
Year: 1973
Sheet: 24 15/16 x 33 inches (63.4 x 83.8 cm)
Image: 21 5/16 x 29 1/2 inches (54.1 x 74.9 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 10, 11 and 10 respectively
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Printer: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Corlett 123-125, RLCR
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamps and inkstamp on the reverse
1. Bull Head I (Corlett 123)
2. Bull Head II (Corlett 124)
3. Bull Head III (Corlett 125)
2026 Auction Results
Bull Head Series, 1973
Christie’s New-York: 15 April 2026
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 76,200
COMPLETE SET
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head Series, 1973
(Corlett 123-125; Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné 2132, 2135, 2138; Gemini 488-490)
The complete set of one line-cut, one lithograph and line-cut and one lithograph, line-cut and screenprint in colors, on Arjomari paper
Each signed and dated in pencil and numbered 4⁄100
(there were also ten artist’s proofs sets)
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Each with their blindstamps and ink stamp on the reverse
2025 Auction Results
Bull Head Series, 1973
Pop Impressions: Prints from the Collection of Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein
Sotheby’s New-York: 23 October 2025
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 107,950
COMPLETE SET
AUCTION RECORD FOR BULL HEAD SERIES
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923 – 1997)
Bull Head Series (Corlett 123-125; RLCR 2132, 2135 and 2138), 1973
The complete set of three lithographs with line-cut printed in colors, two with screenprint, on Arjomari paper
Each signed in pencil, dated and inscribed A/P IV
This set is one of ten artist’s proof sets aside from the numbered edition of 100
Each with the blindstamp of the publisher, Gemini G.E.L, and with their inkstamp on the verso
2024 Auction Results
Bull Head Series, 1973
Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2024
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 33,600
COMPLETE SET
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923 – 1997)
Bull Head Series (Corlett 123-125), 1973
The complete set of three lithographs with line-cut printed in colors, two with screeenprint, on Arjomari paper
All sheets: 25×33 inches (63.5 x 83.8 cm)
Each signed in pencil, dated and numbered 73/100
Bull Head III, 1973
Bonhams Skinner: 31 January 2024
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 10,000
USD 9,600
ROY LICHTENSTEIN
Bull Head III from the Bull Head series (Corlett & Fine 125; NGA/Gemini 31.53), 1973
Color lithograph and screenprint on paper
Signed and dated ‘rf Lichtenstein ’73’ in pencil lower right
Numbered ’39/100′ in pencil lower left
Publisher’s (Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles) and copyright drystamps lower right
2023 Auction Results
NO SALE AT AUCTION IN 2023
2022 Auction Results
NO SALE AT AUCTION IN 2022
2021 Auction Results
Bull Head I, 1973
Christie’s New-York: 16 April 2021
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 17,500
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head I, from Bull Head Series, 1973
Lithograph in colors with line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 93/100
Bull Head II, 1973
Rago: 17 September 2021
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 18,000
USD 25,000
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head II, from Bull Head Series, 1973
Lithograph in six colors, screen-print and line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed, dated and numbered to lower edge ‘Roy Lichtenstein 73 2/100’
Bull Head II, 1973
Freeman’s Hindman: 5 May 2021
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 12,500
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (American, 1923-1997)
Bull Head II (from Bull Head Series), 1973
6-color lithograph, screenprint, and linecut
Signed, dated, and numbered 2/100 in pencil
Bull Head III, 1973
Swann Auction Galleries: 16 November 2021
Estimated: USD 7,000 – 10,000
USD 10,625
ROY LICHTENSTEIN
Bull Head III, 1973
Color lithograph
Screenprint and line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed, dated and numbered 21/100 in pencil, lower margin
Bull Head I
Bull Head I
from Bull Head Series
Medium: Lithograph and linecut on Arjomari paper
Year: 1973
Sheet: 24 15/16 x 33 inches (63.4 x 83.8 cm)
Image: 21 5/16 x 29 1/2 inches (54.1 x 74.9 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 10 AP
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Printer: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Corlett 123, RLCR 2132
Bull Head I, 1973 (RLCR 2132) | Catalogue entry | Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonné
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamps and inkstamp on the reverse
Auction Results
Christie’s New-York: 16 April 2021
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 17,500
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head I, from Bull Head Series, 1973
Lithograph in colors with line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 93/100
Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2018
Estimated: USD 7,000 – 10,000
USD 15,000
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head I, from Bull Head Series, 1973
Lithograph in colors with line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 45/100
Bull Head II
Bull Head II
from Bull Head Series
Medium: Lithograph and linecut on Arjomari paper
Year: 1973
Sheet: 24 15/16 x 32 15/16 inches (63.4 x 83.7 cm)
Image: 21 1/8 x 28 1/16 inches (53.7 x 71.3 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 11 AP
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Printer: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Corlett 124, RLCR 2135
Bull Head II, 1973 (RLCR 2135) | Catalogue entry | Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonné
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamps and inkstamp on the reverse
Auction Results
Rago: 17 September 2021
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 18,000
USD 25,000
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head II, from Bull Head Series, 1973
Lithograph in six colors, screen-print and line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed, dated and numbered to lower edge ‘Roy Lichtenstein 73 2/100’
Freeman’s Hindman: 5 May 2021
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 12,500
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (American, 1923-1997)
Bull Head II (from Bull Head Series), 1973
6-color lithograph, screenprint, and linecut
Signed, dated, and numbered 2/100 in pencil
Bull Head III
Bull Head III
from Bull Head Series
Medium: Lithograph and linecut on Arjomari paper
Year: 1973
Sheet: 25 x 32 15/16 inches (63.5 x 83.7 cm)
Image: 21 x 28 9/16 inches (53.3 x 72.5 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 10 AP
Publisher: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Printer: Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Literature: Corlett 125, RCLR 2138
Bull Head III, 1973 (RLCR 2138) | Catalogue entry | Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonné
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamps and inkstamp on the reverse
Auction Results
Bonhams Skinner: 31 January 2024
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 10,000
USD 9,600
ROY LICHTENSTEIN
Bull Head III from the Bull Head series (Corlett & Fine 125; NGA/Gemini 31.53), 1973
Color lithograph and screenprint on paper
Signed and dated ‘rf Lichtenstein ’73’ in pencil lower right
Numbered ’39/100′ in pencil lower left
Publisher’s (Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles) and copyright drystamps lower right
Swann Auction Galleries: 16 November 2021
Estimated: USD 7,000 – 10,000
USD 10,625
ROY LICHTENSTEIN
Bull Head III, 1973
Color lithograph
Screenprint and line-cut on Arjomari paper
Signed, dated and numbered 21/100 in pencil, lower margin
Complete Sets
Christie’s New-York: 15 April 2026
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 76,200
COMPLETE SET
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Bull Head Series, 1973
(Corlett 123-125; Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonné 2132, 2135, 2138; Gemini 488-490)
The complete set of one line-cut, one lithograph and line-cut and one lithograph, line-cut and screenprint in colors, on Arjomari paper
Each signed and dated in pencil and numbered 4⁄100
(there were also ten artist’s proofs sets)
Published by Gemini G.E.L., Los Angeles
Each with their blindstamps and ink stamp on the reverse
Pop Impressions: Prints from the Collection of Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein
Sotheby’s New-York: 23 October 2025
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 107,950
COMPLETE SET
AUCTION RECORD FOR BULL HEAD SERIES
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923 – 1997)
Bull Head Series (Corlett 123-125; RLCR 2132, 2135 and 2138), 1973
The complete set of three lithographs with line-cut printed in colors, two with screenprint, on Arjomari paper
Each signed in pencil, dated and inscribed A/P IV
This set is one of ten artist’s proof sets aside from the numbered edition of 100
Each with the blindstamp of the publisher, Gemini G.E.L, and with their inkstamp on the verso
Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2024
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 33,600
COMPLETE SET
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923 – 1997)
Bull Head Series (Corlett 123-125), 1973
The complete set of three lithographs with line-cut printed in colors, two with screeenprint, on Arjomari paper
All sheets: 25×33 inches (63.5 x 83.8 cm)
Each signed in pencil, dated and numbered 73/100