10 sheet Silkscreen in colors. Each signed and with the stamped number on the reverse, four sheets dated. The complete set of 10 sheets, each copy 86/250. On thin cardboard. Each 91.5 x 91.5 cm.
Printed by Aetna Silkscreen Products, Inc., New York. Published by Factory Additions, New York. [EH].
- One of the few completely preserved 'Matching Sets'. - The flower becomes a cult motif of Pop Art - Alongside “Marilyn” and “Mao”, Andy Warhol's famous silkscreen prints “Flowers” are icons of American Pop Art.
LITERATURE: Frayda Feldman, Jörg Schellmann, Claudia Defendi. Andy Warhol Prints. A catalogue raisonné 1962-1987, New York 2003, no. II.64-73. -- Christie's, London, Modern and Contemporary Prints, July 3, 1992, lot 631.
The Flowers portfolio containing 10 large silkscreens in radiant colors by Andy Warhol was published in 1970. The artist discovered the motif in the important year 1964, and he remained preoccupied with the Flowers ever since. Why was the year of 1964 so important? In the summer, Andy Warhol joined Leo Castelli, who undoubtedly ran one of the most important galleries for contemporary art in the USA at the time. He had signed artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Claes Oldenburg, alongside luminaries of Abstract Expressionism like De Kooning and Jackson Pollock. Andy Warhol had his first Castelli show between September 26 and October 22, 1964. Exhibiting his work alongside Richard Artschwager, Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist, and Frank Stella. His first solo exhibition "Andy Warhol. Flower Paintings" followed in November (November 21 - December 28, 1964) - and was a great success. Andy Warhol, the son of Eastern European immigrants, grew up in humble circumstances. He pursued a career as a commercial artist, designing shop windows, and creating ads and greeting cards for New York department stores such as Tiffany. The money he earned enabled him to focus on his passion for art. With his Brillo Boxes and Campbell Soup pictures, elevating consumer goods to art objects, he introduced a new concept into contemporary art. This was not only a new aesthetic, he also took a new and questioning look at US consumerism and its beauty - an entirely new view of American society. With series such as "Electric Chair" and "Most Wanted Men", he also addressed social topics. As he was already a sought-after portraitist at the time, many people wanted to be portrayed by him, not least because of his "Marilyn Monroe" and "Jackie" series. These portraits are based on photographs, which he alienated using his innovative silkscreen technique in combination with painting. The "Flowers" are also based on a photograph. A photograph of 7 hibiscus blossoms he came across in the magazine Modern Photography. The shot was taken by Patricia Caulfield, and the accompanying article discussed new ways of developing slides using a specific process that Kodak had invented. Andy Warhol reduced this photo to a square section of 4 blossoms, sharpened the contrasts, and played with the colors.
The Flowers portfolio containing 10 large silkscreens in radiant colors by Andy Warhol was published in 1970. The artist discovered the motif in the important year 1964, and he remained preoccupied with the Flowers ever since. Why was the year of 1964 so important? In the summer, Andy Warhol joined Leo Castelli, who undoubtedly ran one of the most important galleries for contemporary art in the USA at the time. He had signed artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Claes Oldenburg, alongside luminaries of Abstract Expressionism like De Kooning and Jackson Pollock. Andy Warhol had his first Castelli show between September 26 and October 22, 1964. Exhibiting his work alongside Richard Artschwager, Roy Lichtenstein, James Rosenquist, and Frank Stella. His first solo exhibition "Andy Warhol. Flower Paintings" followed in November (November 21 - December 28, 1964) - and was a great success. Andy Warhol, the son of Eastern European immigrants, grew up in humble circumstances. He pursued a career as a commercial artist, designing shop windows, and creating ads and greeting cards for New York department stores such as Tiffany. The money he earned enabled him to focus on his passion for art. With his Brillo Boxes and Campbell Soup pictures, elevating consumer goods to art objects, he introduced a new concept into contemporary art. This was not only a new aesthetic, he also took a new and questioning look at US consumerism and its beauty - an entirely new view of American society. With series such as "Electric Chair" and "Most Wanted Men", he also addressed social topics. As he was already a sought-after portraitist at the time, many people wanted to be portrayed by him, not least because of his "Marilyn Monroe" and "Jackie" series. These portraits are based on photographs, which he alienated using his innovative silkscreen technique in combination with painting. The "Flowers" are also based on a photograph. A photograph of 7 hibiscus blossoms he came across in the magazine Modern Photography. The shot was taken by Patricia Caulfield, and the accompanying article discussed new ways of developing slides using a specific process that Kodak had invented. Andy Warhol reduced this photo to a square section of 4 blossoms, sharpened the contrasts, and played with the colors.