Andy Warhol
Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn)
1967
color screen print on wove paper
91 × 89 cm
Ed./250 — Edition of 250
Location: Clichy, France
Arianee token ID
880840402
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About the artwork
This composition features a close-up portrait of Marilyn Monroe, rendered in a palette of pale blue-green for the skin tones, dark blue for the lips and eyes, and a darker shade of blue-green for the hair, all set against a black background. The image is derived from a 1953 publicity photograph of Monroe from the film "Niagara," which Warhol utilized for various works. The screenprinting technique employed here results in flat areas of color and distinct outlines. The piece is part of a portfolio of ten screenprints created in 1967, each presenting the same photographic image of Monroe with different color combinations. Warhol's use of repetition and variations in color explores the impact of mass media and celebrity imagery. The layering of colors, sometimes printed off-register, is characteristic of his approach to screenprinting, which he adopted to reproduce photographic images. The work transforms a widely recognized image into an art object, engaging with themes of fame and the commodification of public figures.
Expert opinion
The Marilyn Monroe series holds a position within the art historical context of Pop Art, illustrating the movement's engagement with popular culture and mass production techniques. Warhol's adoption of screenprinting for this series allowed for the mechanical reproduction of images, blurring the lines between art and commerce. The selection of Marilyn Monroe as a subject, particularly after her death in 1962, reflects Warhol's ongoing exploration of celebrity, mortality, and the construction of public image. In the art market, Andy Warhol is recognized as one of the most liquid and consistently traded artists globally. His prints, including those from the Marilyn Monroe portfolio, are considered stable investments. The market for these works is mature, with established pricing hierarchies influenced by factors such as edition size, condition, and specific color variations. Warhol's market performance has shown consistent demand, with prints representing a significant portion of his total sales revenue.
About the artist
Born in Pennsylvania to Eastern European parents, Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987) is a major figure in American pop art. A multidisciplinary artist, he was equally at home in painting, sculpture, the literary arts and film. He began his career as an advertising graphic designer for leading fashion magazines, and through this door he entered the world of consumerism. In his art, he reuses the codes he has learned, developing bright colors, silkscreening, repetition and his fascination with images. Exhibited in major museums such as the MOMA, the MET, the Centre Georges Pompidou, etc., his work is sought-after and collected worldwide, making him the 3rd most quantitatively sold artist in the United States in 2023 according to the Artprice report. Some of his works were recently featured in the "Basquiat × Warhol, à quatre mains" exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in 2023.
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