The Gun in America
Medium: Lithograph on 300-gram Somerset paper
Year: 1989
Sheet: 26 3/4 x 20 3/16 inches (68 x 51.2 cm)
Image: 20 1/16 x 14 1/2 inches (51 x 36.8 cm)
Edition: 2
Publisher: Time, Inc., New York
Printer: American Atelier, New York
Publisher: Tyler Graphics, Ltd., Mount Kisco, New York
Literature: Corlett 237
Roy Lichtenstein Catalogue Raisonne: RLCR 3845
The Gun in America, 1989 (RLCR 3845) | Catalogue entry | Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonné
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil lower right
Originally created for the cover of Time magazine, Gun in America along with Bobby Kennedy, was re-created in 1989 at the request of Time. The magazine had donated its archive of materials related to its covers to the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., in 1978. The collection included the original drawings and overlays for both of Lichtenstein’s Time covers. The overlays had deteriorated badly, so the decision was made to produce the prints for exhibition purposes. Carol Diehl coordinated the project for Time and was also present for the proofing. Lichtenstein provided color swatches to assist with the correction. Only two impressions were made of each image: one for the National Portrait Gallery and the other for the artist. All other proofs were destroyed.
Gun in America was originally created for the cover of Time Magazine on 21 June 1968 during a tumultuous period in American history marked by violence and social upheaval. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy sparked as national conversation about gun control and the pervasive culture of firearms in the United States. The cover story highlighted the fragmented and lenient gun policies, emphasizing the urgent need for reform.
Gun in America features a striking image of a gun aimed directly at the viewer, which serves as a provocative commentary of gun violence. Lichtenstein’s use of bold colors and comic-book style is characteristic of his pop art approach and technique, making this artwork visually arresting while simultaneously delivering a serious message about the consequences of gun ownership and the societal implications of violence.
Lichtenstein’s depiction of the gun is not just a representation of a weapon, it also symbolizes the broader issue of fear, caution, and the American obsession with firearms. The yellow smoke rising from the gun’s barrel suggest the aftermath of violence, indicating that the act of shooting has already occurred and that there will be consequences. This imagery perfectly reflects the anxieties of the era, where the right to bear arms was increasingly questioned in light of recent tragic events. Of course, this remains relevant today, as discussions about gun control and violence continue to dominate American discourse. Lichtenstein’s work serves as a historical artifact that captures the zeitgeist of the 1960s while also resonating with contemporary issues surrounding gun legislation and public safety.
Auction Results
Works from the Collection of Dorothy and Roy Lichtenstein
Sotheby’s New-York: 26 September 2025
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 342,900
ROY LICHTENSTEIN (1923 – 1997)
The Gun in America (Corlett 237), 1989
Lithograph printed in colors on Somerset wove paper
Signed, dated ’89 and numbered 1/2 (lower right)