ROY LICHTENSTEIN As I Opened Fire (Triptych), 1966

This official museum-issued offset lithograph triptych reproduces As I Opened Fire (1964), one of Roy Lichtenstein’s most iconic and visually explosive Pop Art compositions. Published by the Stedelijk Museum and printed by Drukkerij Luii & Co., Amsterdam, this work is an authentic museum edition—not a later third-party reproduction.

Originally created in 1964, As I Opened Fire exemplifies Lichtenstein’s groundbreaking transformation of comic-strip imagery into monumental fine art. Across the three panels, the narrative unfolds cinematically: fighter planes, missile fire, and dramatic onomatopoeic text—“BRATATAT!”—combine into a dynamic visual sequence charged with movement, tension, and irony. By isolating and enlarging imagery derived from mass-media sources, Lichtenstein simultaneously celebrated and critiqued the visual language of popular culture, advertising, and wartime illustration.

Rendered in his signature palette of bold primary colors, thick black outlines, and Ben-Day dot textures, the composition achieves remarkable graphic clarity and immediacy. The segmented triptych format enhances the work’s cinematic rhythm, encouraging the viewer to move sequentially across the panels as though reading a comic strip or film storyboard.

This example is particularly desirable as an official Stedelijk Museum printing from the museum’s collection. While multiple editions were produced over the years, these authorized reproductions are no longer available through the museum, making surviving examples increasingly collectible. Unlike unauthorized reproductions, official museum posters maintain direct historical and institutional ties to the original work and exhibition program.

The piece is referenced in The Prints of Roy Lichtenstein (p. 292, App. 5), further reinforcing its significance within the artist’s printed oeuvre.

Professionally mounted in a substantial silver metal frame and ready to hang, the triptych presents with exceptional visual impact, transforming the composition into a striking museum-style installation suitable for both contemporary and design-oriented interiors.

A bold and highly collectible work, ideal for serious collectors of Pop Art, museum ephemera, and iconic 20th-century American imagery.

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