Long-Lost Lichtenstein 'Anxious Girl' Could Fetch $60M at Christie's

A recently uncovered painting by Roy Lichtenstein from his famous 'Girl' series, which has not been seen for more than 30 years, will be available at Christie's 20th Century Evening Sale in New York on May 18, with an estimated value between $40 and $60 million. Titled 'Anxious Girl' (1964), this piece is one of just ten female portraits inspired by comics that Lichtenstein created from 1963 to 1965, a peak period in his career. The artwork is based on Jay Scott Pike's cover for DC Comics' 'Girls' Romances #97' (1963), with Lichtenstein omitting two male figures to emphasize the woman's anxious demeanor. Notably, he painted the Benday dots himself, unlike in most of his later works, and it is one of only two 'Girl' pieces made without oil paint. The consignor obtained it from renowned Pop art collectors Horace and Holly Solomon over thirty years ago. Christie's chairman, Sara Friedlander, remarked that the estimate reflects strong private sales and high demand for vintage Pop art. Lichtenstein's highest auction price remains 'Nurse' (1964), which fetched $95 million in 2015. Seven of his ten most valuable auction results feature female subjects, despite a greater number of male portrayals.