Tears (after Roy Lichtenstein)
Wearable art/Textile (Socks) • Mass-market manufacture; based on the Pop Art style of Roy Lichtenstein
Style & Movement
Pop Art (appropriated/commercial parody)
Medium & Technique
Machine-knitted jacquard textile using cotton/synthetic blend yarns; Ben-Day dot emulation through pixelated stitch patterns
Creation Period
Late 20th to early 21st Century (Contemporary)
Dimensions & Format
Standard adult hosiery size; vertical anatomical format
Subject Description
A close-up of a crying woman's face, featuring a stylized eye, falling teardrops, and a hand. The narrative draws from 1960s DC Comics 'Secret Hearts' romance illustrations, utilizing high-contrast primary colors and graphic outlines.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing signs of elastic tension and minor fuzzing due to wear
Estimated Market Value
$5 - $20 USD
Auction Estimate
$2 - $10 USD (as part of a bulk textile lot)
Provenance History
Retail consumer market; likely acquired through a specialty apparel or museum gift shop outlet
Art Historical Significance
A testament to the 'low-art' democratization of Pop Art, moving from high-gallery canvases back into the mass-produced consumer objects that originally inspired the movement.
Notable Features
The use of the heel and ankle curve to animate the graphic composition; incorporation of Ben-Day dots into the textile weave
Condition Issues
Surface pilling, minor stretching of the knit structure, and potential fading from laundering
Conservation Recommendations
Hand wash cold; air dry away from direct sunlight; avoid high-heat tumble drying to preserve elastic fibers
Collector Notes
Art on socks