I.16. Imperfect Series, 1988
Corlett 219–225
Between 1986 and 1988 Lichtenstein worked on a group of paintings known as the “Imperfects”—geometric abstractions of eccentric shape, some of which pierce the borders of the picture‘s edges. In late 1986 work began on the RLCR 3662, Imperfect Print for B.A.M., and shortly thereafter, in February 1987, this print series was begun at Gemini G.E.L. Each of the printed images actually does break out of the border, extending at one or more points into the surrounding margins.
The Imperfect series, printed on 4-ply museum board, combines woodcut and screenprint, and all but one print have metalized Mylar collage elements. Lichtenstein sent the black-line drawings for the prints to Gemini G.E.L. in advance of his arrival, but worked out the colors there. For the woodcut portions, Lichtenstein cut the outline (key block), and the large flat areas were printed separately from jigsaw cutout sections. To get the dense colors, several overprintings were required. The silver and galvanized Mylar were prepared in sheets and then hand-cut for each of the collage elements. The silver Mylar was overprinted with a clear coat to protect the reflective surface. The galvanized Mylar was overprinted with a silver run made from a rubbing of galvanized steel. A screenprinted coating has been applied to the verso of each of the boards to stabilize it.
(Corlett 2002, p.199)