according to the lichtenstein foundation website, "masterpiece" was part of lichtenstein's first exhibition at ferus gallery in los angeles from april 1 – april 27, 1963, featuring "drowning girl", "portrait of madame cézanne" and other works from 1962 and 1963 when discussing another work ("i know...brad"), lichtenstein stated that the name brad sounded heroic to him and was used with the aim of cliched oversimplification. "drowning girl" is another notable work with brad as the heroic subject.