Roy Lichtenstein, Peace Through Chemistry II (1970), masterfully fuses the aesthetic of commercial illustration with a biting commentary on industrial modernity, science, and human aspiration. This screenprint, catalogued as C.97 in his graphic oeuvre, stands as a striking example of Lichtenstein’s exploration of postwar optimism through the lens of Pop Art’s bold visual language.

Rendered in a crisp palette of primary colors—predominantly red, yellow, and blue—juxtaposed with stark black outlines and fields of white, the composition immediately evokes the sanitized precision of mid-20th-century advertising. Lichtenstein deploys his signature Ben-Day dots with mechanical regularity, imitating the printing techniques of mass media while subtly critiquing their influence on our perception of reality.

At the heart of the piece is an idealized vision of technological progress. A trio of heroic male figures—stylized in the manner of vintage science textbooks or propaganda posters—stand poised in harmony, symbolizing the union of industry, intellect, and humanity. One holds aloft a test tube, another gestures toward a shining industrial city on the horizon, while the third contemplates a molecular diagram suspended in midair like a Platonic ideal. Behind them, a luminous sun rises (or sets) over a futuristic landscape of factories and clean geometric forms, bathed in a utopian glow.

Yet beneath its polished façade lies a layer of irony. The title, Peace Through Chemistry, resonates with both idealism and ambiguity. It echoes Cold War-era faith in science as the engine of progress, while hinting at the uneasy duality of chemistry's potential—for healing or for destruction. Lichtenstein leaves the viewer suspended between admiration and skepticism, neither fully endorsing nor outright condemning the narrative he presents.

With Peace Through Chemistry II, Lichtenstein distills the contradictions of modernity into a single, iconic image: the faith in human reason and industry, the seductive allure of mass production, and the fragile hope that science might be not only our salvation, but also our means of peace. In doing so, he invites us to consider whether this vision is a noble dream—or a beautifully rendered illusion.

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry II, 1970, C.96 is a Lithograph and screenprint on Special Arjomari paper. This work is signed ‘rf Lichtenstein’ by Roy Lichtenstein (New York, 1923 – New York, 1997) in pencil, lower right. Blind stamp, lower right: (copyright symbol and Gemini G.E.L. chop). Stamped on verso, lower left: (Gemini G.E.L. / Los Angeles, Calif.). Workshop number in pencil, lower left, beneath stamp: (RL70-240). Numbered from the edition of 32 in pencil, lower left. There is also 6 Artist’s Proofs, 1 RTP (Ready to Print), 1 PPII (Printer’s Proof), 3 GEL, and 1 C (Chromogenic print).

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry II, 1970, C.97 is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the sale of the work).

1. Corlett, Mary. The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein: A Catalogue Raisonne 1948-1997. Hudson Hills; Revised Edition (July 19, 2002). Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry II, 1970, C.97 listed and illustrated as catalogue number 97.

2. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany our Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry II, 1970, C.97.

About the Framing:

Framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry II, 1970, C.97 is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry: is a series of works by the American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. Created in the 1970s, these artworks typically feature enlarged and stylized depictions of various chemical compounds, often presented in a comic book-inspired style. The title "Peace Through Chemistry" is a play on the phrase "Peace Through Strength," reflecting Lichtenstein's interest in exploring contemporary culture and societal themes through his distinctive visual language. The series is characterized by bold colors, Ben-Day dots, and Lichtenstein's characteristic use of line and composition.

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry I

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry II

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry III

Roy Lichtenstein Peace Through Chemistry IV

Roy Lichtenstein Chem1A