Prints by WARHOL
1967 Marilyn
1
2014 SOLD for $ 2.2M by Christie's
The method used by Andy Warhol of mixing painting and silkscreen was effective for the multiplication of images. However there is much more simple and the solution has been known for centuries : printing.
This new phase in Andy's career began in 1967. He edited in 250 copies numbered 1 to 250 and 26 artist's proofs numbered A to Z ten portraits of Marilyn from a single image in ten different colors, on 91 x 91 cm sheets.
Despite the important printed quantity, this portfolio is rare at auction. Collectors prefer keeping these icons. One of them was sold for $ 2.2M by Christie's on November 13, 2014.
This new phase in Andy's career began in 1967. He edited in 250 copies numbered 1 to 250 and 26 artist's proofs numbered A to Z ten portraits of Marilyn from a single image in ten different colors, on 91 x 91 cm sheets.
Despite the important printed quantity, this portfolio is rare at auction. Collectors prefer keeping these icons. One of them was sold for $ 2.2M by Christie's on November 13, 2014.
2
2012 SOLD for $ 1.65M by Sotheby's
The complete portfolio 26/250 was sold for $ 1.65M by Sotheby's on November 2, 2012, lot 346.
Other results in the same sale included :
Mao: $ 720K; Flowers: $ 610K; Endangered species: $ 480K; Myths: $ 435K; Portraits of Jews: $ 265K; Electric Chairs: $ 160K.
Other results in the same sale included :
Mao: $ 720K; Flowers: $ 610K; Endangered species: $ 480K; Myths: $ 435K; Portraits of Jews: $ 265K; Electric Chairs: $ 160K.
3
2008 SOLD for $ 1M by Sotheby's
A copy of the Marilyn portfolio was sold for $ 1M by Sotheby's on October 31, 2008.
1968 Campbell's Soup
2020 SOLD for $ 930K by Sotheby's
The success of the Marilyn portfolio is encouraging. Warhol retrieves his masterpiece of minimalist figurative art from 1962 : Campbell's Soup images differing only by the label indicating the nature of the condensed. The original series included 32 paintings on canvas. Warhol selects ten of them in his 1968 Soups, printed on 89 x 59 cm sheets with the same production run as the Marilyn, 250 copies plus 26 artist's proofs.
He still has much reserve ! A new edition made in the following year offers ten other soups, this time with a few fancy graphics. The labelling is new but this operation is otherwise strictly identical to the previous edition.
The complete set 192/250 of the Campbell's Soup I was sold for $ 930K by Sotheby's on October 22, 2020, lot 25.
He still has much reserve ! A new edition made in the following year offers ten other soups, this time with a few fancy graphics. The labelling is new but this operation is otherwise strictly identical to the previous edition.
The complete set 192/250 of the Campbell's Soup I was sold for $ 930K by Sotheby's on October 22, 2020, lot 25.
1972 Mao
next sale by Sotheby's on April 22, 2021
The complete portfolio 8/250 is estimated $ 1M for sale online by Sotheby's on April 22, 2021, lot 16.
Intro
In 1972 the US President Nixon makes his historic travel to China to meet the Great Helmsman.
Warhol then appropriates Chairman Mao's portrait from the 1966 cover of the Little Red Book. The most powerful statesman in the world is for Warhol through that image the symbol of the mass consumption.
For the first time, Warhol had edited the prints before preparing a painted version. He never made clear if he had or not some polical intentions in that project which had been reportedly suggested by his dealer Bischofberger.
The Mao portfolio of screenprints is created by Warhol according to the same format as the 1967 Marilyn, 10 color variants from a single image 91 x 91 cm, in an edition of 250 plus 50 artist's proof sets and 4 printer's proof sets for the use of Styria Studio. The publisher was Castelli.
In the past, Chinese censors had long stopped any versions of Warhol's Mao on their land. The story changed when the art market went to a globalization after the 2008-2010 crisis. The complete set number 10 was sold by Christie's in Hong Kong on May 29, 2010 for HK $ 6.6M from a lower estimate of HK $ 3M.
Warhol then appropriates Chairman Mao's portrait from the 1966 cover of the Little Red Book. The most powerful statesman in the world is for Warhol through that image the symbol of the mass consumption.
For the first time, Warhol had edited the prints before preparing a painted version. He never made clear if he had or not some polical intentions in that project which had been reportedly suggested by his dealer Bischofberger.
The Mao portfolio of screenprints is created by Warhol according to the same format as the 1967 Marilyn, 10 color variants from a single image 91 x 91 cm, in an edition of 250 plus 50 artist's proof sets and 4 printer's proof sets for the use of Styria Studio. The publisher was Castelli.
In the past, Chinese censors had long stopped any versions of Warhol's Mao on their land. The story changed when the art market went to a globalization after the 2008-2010 crisis. The complete set number 10 was sold by Christie's in Hong Kong on May 29, 2010 for HK $ 6.6M from a lower estimate of HK $ 3M.
1
2012 SOLD for £ 1.6M by Sotheby's
The copy from the Gunter Sachs collection was the artist's proof set 1/50. It was sold for £ 1.6M by Sotheby's on May 22, 2012. from a lower estimate of £ 300K, lot 31.
2
2011 SOLD for $ 1.43M by Sotheby's
The complete portfolio 211/250 accompanied by its original box was sold by Sotheby's on October 27, 2011 for $ 1.43M from a lower estimate of $ 700K, lot 33.
3
2014 SOLD for $ 1.1M by Sotheby's
The complete printer's proof number P.P. 1/4 was sold for $ 1.1M by Sotheby's on November 12, 2014, lot 234.
4
2007 SOLD for £ 825K by Christie's
The artist's proof set number 12/50, complete in its original box, was sold for £ 825K by Christie's on October 16, 2007 from a lower estimate of £ 200K, lot 430.
1981 Myths
2020 SOLD for $ 870K by Sotheby's
After the Athletes series of canvases started in 1977, the prints edited by Andy Warhol entered a new phase. Each portfolio still consists of ten prints in a unique format 96 x 96 cm, but the set covers a theme with images different from each other. Colors may vary from one copy to another. An example is the Myths series from 1981.
Myth is thus made of ten screenprints in colors, for a total edition of 200 plus 30 artist's proofs.
The complete set 72/200 including nine with diamond dust, was sold for $ 870K by Sotheby's on October 22, 2020 from a lower estimate of $ 500K, lot 22.
Myth is thus made of ten screenprints in colors, for a total edition of 200 plus 30 artist's proofs.
The complete set 72/200 including nine with diamond dust, was sold for $ 870K by Sotheby's on October 22, 2020 from a lower estimate of $ 500K, lot 22.
1983 Endangered Species
2021 SOLD for £ 2.9M by Sotheby's
At the instigation of an activist, Warhol publishes a series on the Endangered Species in 1983, in 150 copies 96 x 96 cm plus 30 artist's proofs. He also paints canvases with the same images. The animals are chosen from among the most spectacular species protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
The playful effect is more obvious than for the other series. Warhol enjoys making up his new stars with pop colors as he had done in the past with Marilyn and Mao. Most are copies of photographs, but the giant panda recaptures the stylized graphics of the artist's early days, when he was directly influenced by advertising art.
The set 125/150 was sold for £ 2.9M from a lower estimate of £ 350K by Sotheby's on March 17, 2021, lot 84. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
The set 32/150 of Endangered Species was sold for $ 530K by Christie's on October 27, 2010.
The 103/150 was sold for $ 725K by Heritage on October 28, 2015.
Warhol's contribution to preserving biodiversity does not stop there. In 1986 a book titled Vanishing Animals is illustrated by him with colored drawings. The selected species are less famous but just as threatened as the Endangered Species.
The playful effect is more obvious than for the other series. Warhol enjoys making up his new stars with pop colors as he had done in the past with Marilyn and Mao. Most are copies of photographs, but the giant panda recaptures the stylized graphics of the artist's early days, when he was directly influenced by advertising art.
The set 125/150 was sold for £ 2.9M from a lower estimate of £ 350K by Sotheby's on March 17, 2021, lot 84. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
The set 32/150 of Endangered Species was sold for $ 530K by Christie's on October 27, 2010.
The 103/150 was sold for $ 725K by Heritage on October 28, 2015.
Warhol's contribution to preserving biodiversity does not stop there. In 1986 a book titled Vanishing Animals is illustrated by him with colored drawings. The selected species are less famous but just as threatened as the Endangered Species.
