Rivers, Larry | Madame Butterfly, from Metropolitan Opera Fine Art I, 1978 — available on Composition Gallery

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Screenprint and lithograph in colors on wove paper. Signed in orange pencil, dated and numbered. With the blindstamps of the publisher/printer, Metropolitan Opera Association/Styria Studio, New York.

Madame Butterfly by Larry Rivers, created in 1978 as part of the Metropolitan Opera Fine Art I portfolio, is a striking fusion of American pop iconography and Japanese traditional portraiture. This screenprint and lithograph reinterprets the tragic heroine of Puccini’s opera with a bold, satirical twist. The geisha figure, rendered in a style reminiscent of ukiyo-e woodcuts, is adorned with oversized yellow hairpins resembling missiles or matches, set dramatically against a waving American flag. Rivers critiques themes of cultural collision, exoticism, and nationalism, offering a provocative commentary on East-West relations through a visual dialogue both humorous and unsettling.

Larry Rivers (United States, 1923–2002) was a multifaceted artist whose work bridged Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. Initially a jazz saxophonist, he transitioned to visual arts, creating paintings and sculptures that often incorporated commercial imagery and cultural references. Rivers' innovative approach significantly influenced post-war American art.

Larry Rivers

Madame Butterfly, from Metropolitan Opera Fine Art I, 1978

Name: Madame Butterfly, from Metropolitan Opera Fine Art I, 1978
SKU: 15614
Price: 1150.00 USD
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Mixed Media

Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.

Edition

Edition of 250 + 12 APs

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●Inventory 15614

●Signed

Limited Edition Print

Screen-print

USD 1,875

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Any art communicates what you're in the mood to receive.
- Larry Rivers

Larry Rivers (b. 1923 USA, d. 2002 USA) was an influential American painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, often credited as a key figure in the development of Pop Art. Rivers' work is characterized by its bold use of color, dynamic compositions, and incorporation of everyday objects and popular culture references, blending abstraction with figuration in innovative ways. He began his career as a jazz musician before turning to painting in the late 1940s, studying under Hans Hofmann and becoming associated with the New York School. Rivers is best known for his works that juxtapose traditional artistic techniques with contemporary themes, such as his iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware (1953), which reinterprets the famous historical painting in a modern context. His art often challenged conventional boundaries, merging high art with popular imagery and exploring themes of history, identity, and politics. Rivers' work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide, and he remains a significant figure in the history of 20th-century American art. (Artist website)

Artwork by Willem de Kooning

What is Gestural?

Gestural art is a term that describes painting with freely sweeping brushstrokes. The primary goal of gestural art is to allow the artist to physically express emotional impulses. The varied, yet expressive paint marks are intended to convey the artist's inner thoughts and emotions, which viewers are believed to understand through the dynamic and spontaneous application of paint.

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Larry Rivers

Madame Butterfly, from Metropolitan Opera Fine Art I, 1978

57.2 x 77.2 cm

Language & Currency

Larry Rivers