Flowers

Andy Warhol

Flowers first appeared as a theme in 1964 with an exhibition of paintings on the subject at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City. The image comes from a photograph of hibiscus flowers by Patricia Caulfield included in the book Modern Photography: the appropriated image was transferred to silkscreens. A small-scale 23 inch color lithograph was produced and used as a poster image for the 1964 show, and about 300 were signed and dated. In 1968 a colour wool & silk tapestry was made with 20 examples, about 7 feet square.

Based on the success of his silkscreen portfolios Marilyn, 1967 and Campbell’s Soup, 1968 & Campbell’s Soup II, 1969, Warhol set about to create the portfolio of Flowers, 1970 [ F&S II.64-73 ]. Ten colour combinations were made based on the Caulfield photograph, and two of the 10 prints played with the registration by rotating the screen 90 degrees.

This unique two-sided print, retained by Andy Warhol and later by the Foundation after his death, was likely a test-proof used to determine colour combinations, and illustrates both the use of vibrant colour (recto) and off-registration screen rotation (verso).

This print was among the last group certified by the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board prior to dissolution and has its own certificate and registration number (125.122).

Artist
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Title
Flowers
Medium
Screenprint on buff museum board, printed on both sides
Date
c.1970
Sheet
35 7/8 x 36 in. : 91.2 x 91.4 cm
Edition
Unique double-sided proof aside from the edition
Printer
A working proof printed in Warhol's printmaking studio at The Factory (6th floor, Decker Building, 33 Union Square West, New York City)
Provenance
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts; Private Collection, Los Angeles
Notes
This work is accompanied by a certificate of the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, and has its own Identification Number 125.122
Literature
Not in F&S, but produced before the set of 10 Flowers (F&S II.64-73) in 1970
Reference
C16-01
Status
Sold

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