Jet Pilot

"Jet Pilot" is a prominent pop art piece by Roy Lichtenstein, created in 1962 using graphite pencil. In characteristic Lichtenstein fashion, the artwork draws inspiration from comic book imagery, a recurrent theme in his oeuvre from that period. This piece exemplifies Lichtenstein's skill in reinterpreting and modifying source material, thus highlighting his distinctive artistic vision.

Originally owned by Richard Brown Baker, "Jet Pilot" found its way to the Yale University Art Gallery by 2013. Lichtenstein, not only an artist but also a trained pilot and draftsman, frequently drew from his personal experiences and the dynamic world of comic books to create his aeronautical-themed art. "Jet Pilot" is part of a series depicting pilots in the heat of air combat, alongside other notable works such as "Brattata" "Bratatat!" and "Okay Hot-Shot, Okay!"

This particular piece exemplifies Lichtenstein's use of the frottage technique. Before gaining fame for his Ben-Day dots, he employed this method effectively. The inspiration for "Jet Pilot" originated from an issue of DC Comics titled "All American Men of War" #89, published in January-February 1962. Lichtenstein's work has been featured in global exhibitions, often displayed alongside original DC Comics artwork, particularly highlighting his black-and-white sketches from 1961-68.

Critically, "Jet Pilot" is notable because, unlike his usual practice of simplifying source material, Lichtenstein chose to add more detail to the gun sight in this piece. He also altered the trajectory of the enemy bullets compared to the original comic, changing the dramatic effect of the bullets hitting the pilot's air hose. This modification aligns with Lichtenstein's broader exploration of the themes of "machine and embodied vision" a concept also evident in his other works like "Crak!" "Okay Hot-Shot, Okay!" and "Bratatat!"