Blam (Lichtenstein)
Blam (sometimes Blam!) is a 1962 painting by Roy Lichtenstein falling within the pop art idiom. It is one of his military comic book derivatives and was one of the works presented at his first solo exhibition. The work is in the collection at the Yale University Art Gallery History. The painting is based on Russ Heath's art in the comic book "All-American Men of War" issue #89 (January-February 1962), published by National Periodical Publications. The painting depicts a pilot ejecting from an exploding plane. The same issue was the inspiration for several other Lichtenstein  paintings, "Okay Hot-Shot, Okay!", "Brattata", "Whaam!" and "Tex!" The graphite pencil sketch, "Jet Pilot" was also from that issue. When Lichtenstein had his first solo show at The Leo Castelli Gallery in February 1962, it sold out before opening. "Blam" sold for $1000 ($ in dollars), according to one source, but less than $1000 according to another. The exhibition included "Look Mickey", "Engagement Ring" and "The Refrigerator". The show ran from February 10 through March 3. The work appeared in the exhibition entitled 'The New Realists' at the Sidney Janis Gallery from November 1 to December 1 , 1962. Details. Lichtenstein began his war imagery efforts with single frame pictures such as "BLAM". "Blam" uses quintessential war imagery. Although the text is limited to one four-letter word, the narrative is unnecessary owing to the eminent realism presented. The canvas is loaded with images surrounding the focal figure, of the aircraft under attack. It is regarded, along with "Takka Takka" as "successful in their combination of brilliant color and narrative situation". "Blam" is a jest with the viewer that uses an exclamation without narrative context. Like "Blang" (1962) and "Varoom" (1963), "Blam"'s onomatopoeia explodes "like a violent  central sun over the entire composition". Lichtenstein has revised the original source so that the aircraft and its explosion are the joint foci from which the painting radiates. Unlike the original, which had substantive narrative content, Lichtenstein's version has more formality and a linear pattern, but a more simplified surface.