I Know...Brad

"I Know...Brad" is a captivating piece of pop art created by Roy Lichtenstein in 1964. You can find this striking painting at the Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst in Aachen. Lichtenstein’s use of Ben-Day dots and a speech balloon—key elements of his artistic signature—makes this artwork particularly notable. His objective was to transform the original comic book sources into something entirely new and more meaningful through his art.

The painting itself is quite substantial, measuring 174 cm by 95.9 cm. It features a single, three-quarter-length image of a girl who appears heartbroken. This portrayal is both ironic and emotional. Lichtenstein's female figures from this period (post-1963) are characterized by their hard, crisp, and brittle appearance. They exhibit a uniform, fashionable look with consistent makeup styles.

Art critic Ellen H. Johnson wrote an insightful article titled "Lichtenstein and the Printed Image" in which she explores how Lichtenstein parodies the original comic elements in "I Know...Brad." He achieves this by enlarging the scale of the image, eliminating unnecessary details, varying and reducing the number of lines, and altering the color scheme to make the painting more dynamic. Additionally, he enhances the idealization of the subject while invoking the linear style of Art Nouveau.