''Varoom!'' is a 1963
pop art painting by
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Fox Lichtenstein ( ; October27, 1923September29, 1997) was an American pop artist. He rose to prominence in the 1960s through pieces which were inspired by popular advertising and the comic book style. Much of his work explores the relations ...
that depicts an explosion and the
onomatopoeic
Onomatopoeia (or rarely echoism) is a type of word, or the process of creating a word, that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Common onomatopoeias in English include animal noises such as ''oink'', '' ...
sound that gives it its name.
Background
In the early- and mid-1960s Lichtenstein produced several of his most notable works, many with themes of war or romance, but others with themes of explosions or brushstrokes. Several of Lichtenstein's large-scale depictions of explosions, such as ''Varoom!'' are iconic.
''Varoom!'' along with ''
Whaam!
''Whaam!'' is a 1963 diptych painting by the American artist Roy Lichtenstein. It is one of the best-known works of pop art, and among Lichtenstein's most important paintings. ''Whaam!'' was first exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New Y ...
'' and ''
Bratatat!'' are among Lichtenstein's most recognizable onomatopoeic works and was in a sense part of Lichtenstein's response to
action painting
Action painting, sometimes called "gestural abstraction", is a style of painting in which paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather than being carefully applied. The resulting work often emphasizes the physical ...
.
Lichtenstein's list of aeronautically themed works is extensive. ''Varoom!'' is an explosion that is regarded as part of that theme.
''Varoom!'', which depicts an instantaneous explosion, is composed of the
primary color
Primary colors are colorants or colored lights that can be mixed in varying amounts to produce a gamut of colors. This is the essential method used to create the perception of a broad range of colors in, e.g., electronic displays, color prin ...
s presented over a light dotted background. Black and white specs add crackle to the composition. The block-lettered text, "VAROOM!", stands out, giving a title to the shattering event.
In 1964, this painting served as the basis for the beginning of Lichtenstein's sculptural efforts, when he produced an enameled steel work that extended his theme of flatness. In 1965, he extended this theme to
ceramic art
Ceramic art is art made from ceramic materials, including clay. It may take varied forms, including artistic pottery, including tableware, tiles, figurines and other sculpture. As one of the plastic arts, ceramic art is a visual art. While ...
.
Lichtenstein also created another painting entitled ''Varoom'' (no exclamation point, 1965).
Critical appraisal
''Varoom!'', which spews action and drama, is based on the "visual language of comics", unlike the romance and war comic-based work that focuses more on the narrative than the graphic details as this work does.
See also
*
1963 in art
Sources
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External links
Lichtenstein Foundation website
{{Roy Lichtenstein
1963 paintings
Military art
Paintings by Roy Lichtenstein