Industry and the Arts is a vibrant print that features a diagonally split composition. As the title suggests, one side of the work embodies “Industry” and is filled with industrial buildings and factories with smokestacks pouring out pollution. Lichtenstein used a somber color palette of blues, black, and white to illustrate the cold and impersonal nature of capitalism and manufacturing. The other half of the work represents “the Arts,” and is bursting with music notes, birds, geometric designs, and other artistic symbols. The warmer color palette of red, yellow, white, and black gives a more welcoming and positive energy to this half of the screenprint, especially in comparison to the “Industry” half. Lichtenstein is clearly commenting on the contrast between these two facets of society and showing the viewer how the arts provide life, energy, and interest in an industrial world.

Industry and the Arts (I) is printed on aluminum in an edition of 100, whereas Industry and the Arts (II) is printed on paper in an edition of 250.

1. Industry and the Arts (I)

Industry and the Arts (I)

Medium: Screen-print in colors on aluminum with a C.M. Fabriano Cotone paper mount
Year: 1969
Image: 43.5 x 36.5 cm
Sheet: 65.9 x 47.8 cm
Edition: 100
Publisher: Gabriele Mazzotta Editore, Milan
Literature: Corlett 85

Signed, dated and numbered with the publisher’s blindstamp

2. Industry and the Arts (II)

Industry and the Arts (II)

Medium: Screen-print in colors on C. M. Fabriano paper
Year: 1969
Image: 17 1/8 x 14 3/8 inches (43.5 x 36.5 cm)
Sheet: 26 x 19 1/4 inches (66 x 48.9 cm)
Edition: 250
Publisher: Gabriele Mazzotta Editore, Milan
Literature: Corlett 86

Signed, dated and numbered with the publisher’s blindstamp

Auction Results

1. Industry and the Arts (I)

Christie’s online: 17 July 2025
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 47,880

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Industry and the Arts (I) (Corlett 85), 1969
Screenprint in colors on aluminum with a Fabriano paper mat (as issued)
Signed and dated in pencil on the mat, numbered 78/100

Christie’s New-York: 28 October 2023
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 37,800

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Industry and the Arts (I), 1969
Screenprint in colors on aluminum with a C.M. Fabriano Cotone paper mount
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 60⁄100 on the mount

Christie’s London: 24 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 32,760 / USD 42,970

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Industry and the Arts (I), 1969
Screen-print in colors on aluminum with a C.M. Fabriano Cotone paper mount (as issued)
Signed, dated and numbered 61/100 on the mount

Christie’s New-York: 22 October 2021
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 20,000
USD 37,500

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Industry and the Arts (I) (Corlett 85), 1969
Screenprint in colors on aluminum with C.M. Fabriano Cotone paper mat
Signed and dated in pencil on the paper mat, numbered 47/100

2. Industry and the Arts (II)

Sotheby’s online: 15 July 2025
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 13,970

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923 – 1997)
Industry and the Arts (Corlett 86), 1969
Screenprint in colors on C.M. Fabriano wove paper
Signed in pencil and dated ’89 (lower left)
Numbered 134/250 (lower right)

Christie’s London: 27 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 20,160 / USD 24,485

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Industry and the Arts (II), 1969
Screen-print in colors on Fabriano wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 176/250

Sotheby’s London: 15 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 15,240 / USD 18,520

Rago: 16 June 2021
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 25,000
USD 22,500

Christie’s New-York: 24 October 2017
Estimated: USD 8,000 – 12,000
USD 21,250

ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923-1997)
Industry and the Arts (II), 1969
Screen-print in colors on C. M. Fabriano paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered 29/250