Andy Warhol
Superman (II.260)
1981

About the Item

"Superman (II.260)" is a screenprint by Andy Warhol made in 1981. The print is signed, in pencil, lower right, "Andy Warhol 156/200". The print size is 38 x 38 inches. The framed size is 40 5/8 x 40 5/8 x 2 inches. "Superman FSII.260" is a part of Andy Warhol's 'Myths' series comprised of 10 screenprints utilizing iconic imagery, primarily from 1950s television or old Hollywood films. As a series, 'Myths' speaks to America's pre-eminence and powerful past of characters known and loved around the world. Other prints included in the series are characters loved by children such as Mickey Mouse and Santa Claus, as well as fictional figures like Uncle Sam, Dracula, and The Wicked Witch of the West. The fame and recognition of each character in the series plays into Warhol's love of mass reproduction of imagery as well as his frequent commentary on the idolization of celebrities and the powerful nature of consumerism. Provenance: Private Collection, Japan Sale: Sotheby's Prints & Multiples New York, November 23, 2015, lot 359 Private Collection Literature: Frayda Feldman & Jorg Schellmann, Andy Warhol Prints: a catalogue raisonné, 1962-1987, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts, New York, 2003, no. II.260, p. 122

Creator:
Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987, American)
Creation Year:
1981
Dimensions:
Height: 38 in (96.52 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)
More Editions & Sizes:
Edition of 200Price: $350,000
Medium:
Screen
Movement & Style:
Pop Art
Period:
Late 20th Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Palm Desert, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: 457301stDibs: LU9314073562
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Shop All Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol

The name of American artist Andy Warhol is all but synonymous with Pop art, the movement he helped shape in the 1960s. He was phenomenally prolific, and the archive of original photography, prints, drawings, paintings and other art that he left behind is beyond vast.

Andy Warhol is known for his clever appropriation of motifs and images from popular advertising and commercials, which he integrated into graphic, vibrant works that utilized mass-production technologies such as printmaking, photography and silkscreening. Later in his career, Warhol expanded his oeuvre to include other forms of media, founding Interview magazine and producing fashion shoots and films on-site at the Factory, his world-famous studio in New York.

Born and educated in in Pittsburgh, Warhol moved to New York City in 1949 and built a successful career as a commercial illustrator. Although he made whimsical drawings as a hobby during these years, his career as a fine artist began in the mid-1950s with ink-blot drawings and hand-drawn silkscreens. The 1955 lithograph You Can Lead a Shoe to Water illustrates how he incorporated in his artwork advertising styles and techniques, in this case shoe commercials.

As a child, Warhol was often sick and spent much of his time in bed, where he would make sketches and put together collections of movie-star photographs. He described this period as formative in terms of his skills and interests. Indeed, Warhol remained obsessed with celebrities throughout his career, often producing series devoted to a famous face or an object from the popular culture, such as Chairman Mao or Campbell’s tomato soup. The 1967 silkscreen Marilyn 25 embodies his love of bright color and famous subjects.

Warhol was a prominent cultural figure in New York during the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. The Factory was a gathering place for the era’s celebrities, writers, drag queens and fellow artists, and collaboration was common. To this day, Warhol remains one of the most important artists of the 20th century and continues to exert influence on contemporary creators.

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