Pin-up and Symbols of American Power (possibly titled 'Icarus')
Print, specifically a screenprint (serigraph) or lithograph on heavy-weight paper under plexiglass • Attributed to the circle of Mel Ramos or Tom Wesselmann; shares stylistic affinities with Gerald Laing or Peter Phillips (British Pop Art)
Style & Movement
Pop Art; specifically the New Realism/Pin-up aesthetic combined with Political Satire
Medium & Technique
Screenprinting/Lithography featuring flat areas of saturated color, crisp mechanical outlines, and graphic layering characteristic of 1960s-70s Pop Art
Creation Period
Circa late 1960s to mid-1970s
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 30 inches; large-scale vertical portrait format
Subject Description
A complex collage of American iconography: a nude pin-up girl resembling Bettie Page, the Statue of Liberty (inverted/descending), an 'ICARUS' branded astronaut/pilot, US Army missiles, and measuring scales. It reflects a narrative of American technological hubris, militarism, and sexualized consumer culture.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible glare from plexiglass suggests some slight waving of the paper, but colors remain highly vibrant
Estimated Market Value
$1,500 - $4,500 based on the quality of Pop Art prints from this period and unidentified/minor artist status
Auction Estimate
$1,200 - $3,000
Provenance History
Likely part of a limited edition print portfolio from a contemporary art gallery; no specific labels visible from the front
Art Historical Significance
Significant as a localized example of late 20th-century Pop Art critique, blending high-brow political commentary (the Icarus myth) with low-brow mass media imagery (pin-up models)
Notable Features
The juxtaposition of the 'Icarus' helmet with the smoking hand and the ruler suggests a metaphorical critique of Cold War 'measurements' of power and the inevitable fall of empires
Condition Issues
Minor surface reflections; potential light foxing or yellowing at the extreme edges hidden by the frame; minor planar distortion (cockling) of the paper support
Conservation Recommendations
UV-protective glazing is recommended to prevent color fading; acid-free mounting is necessary; keep in a climate-controlled environment to mitigate paper rippling