Drowning Girl
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein (1923 – 1997) was an American pop artist, who started using comic book strips as the basis of his artworks. “Drowning Girl” is based on a DC comics issue #83 Secret Love by Tony Abruzzo published in 1962. At the time when Lichtenstein started using comics, they weren’t seen as an individual art genre, therefore he blurred the line between high and low art. “Drowning Girl” is part of his series, where he depicted unhappy, even miserable women, usually because of relationship dramas. “Drowning Girl” is like a textbook example of melodrama, because the woman seems to rather drown than call her boyfriend for help. Another interpretation is that the girl is drowning in her own tears, bathing in the tragedy. Lichtenstein has also admitted using 1831 Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” as a reference for the turbulent sea.
Roy Lichtenstein (1923 – 1997) oli Ameerika popkunstnik, kes hakkas oma teoste loomisel tuginema koomiksiraamatutele. “Drowning Girl” põhineb DC Comics koomiksil “Secret Love” numbriga 83, mille autor oli Tony Abruzzo ning mis avaldati 1962. aastal. Ajal, mil Lichtenstein hakkas koomikseid kasutama ei nähtud neid kui individuaalset kunstižanri, sellest tulenevalt segas kunstnik piiri kõrge ja madala kunsti vahel. “Drowning Girl” on osa tema seeriast, kus ta kujutab õnnetuid, koguni masenduses naisi, tavaliselt suhtedraamade tõttu. “Drowning Girl” on nagu õpikunäide melodraamast, sest teosel olev naine pigem upuks kui kutsuks oma poiss-sõbra appi. Teine tõlgendus räägib sellest, et tüdruk upub iseenda pisaratesse, seega kümbleb ta tragöödias. Lichtenstein on tunnistanud ka Katsushika Hokusai “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (1831) tormiste merelainete inspiratsioonina kasutamist oma teoses.
