When mentioning the Pop Art pioneer Andy Warhol, it always comes with his iconic silkscreen printed images, from the universally known Campbell’s soup cans to the timeless sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, those constantly replicated images are deeply imprinted in the history of 20th-century art.
Recently, Christie’s announced that Andy Warhol’s most influential portrait painting “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” will be auctioned at the May auction week this year, with an estimated value of just $200 million (about HK$1.5 billion). If successful, it will become the highest-priced 20th-century artwork in auction history! Below, we will introduce the artistic value of this painting.
Andy Warhol began making silk screen prints in August 1962. He was fascinated by this technique because it allowed for the mass production of the same image in a short amount of time, with simplicity and ease, while also being able to change the colors of the image according to preference. At the same time, Marilyn Monroe happened to pass away that month, which inspired Warhol to create an image of her beautiful face.
By 1964, Warhol had invented a more refined but time-consuming silk-screen printing technique, using this special technique to create a limited number of portraits for this Hollywood legend. He used a promotional still of Marilyn Monroe from the 1953 film “Niagara” as a blueprint to create the first batch of Marilyn portrait prints.
This series consists of 5 pieces, each in red, orange, light blue, sage blue, and greenish blue. This technique, to some extent, is far from his well-known mass production method, and due to its extreme difficulty, he never used it again. This portrait has also become a masterpiece, forever imprinted in art history.
In this work, Warhol used the silkscreen technique to print Marilyn Monroe’s portrait on canvas, accurately capturing Monroe’s facial features, including her bright sparkling eyes, full and sensual red lips, and iconic beauty mark. The handling of this phase of work is more direct, creating a lasting impression through strong and highly saturated colors.
Afterwards, the artist continued to create portraits of influential figures, but still could not replace the status of the “Marilyn” series. One of the main reasons is that she was one of the most popular sexy female stars of the 1950s and 1960s, even though she was only the top female star for 10 years, she also created box office miracles in every movie she appeared in. Her influence in the Hollywood film industry, as well as her charming and sexy image, is considered a rare superstar of the century. After half a century, she is still a popular culture idol in many people’s hearts.
In this way, Marilyn Monroe under Andy Warhol also has significant spiritual and cultural significance, not only leaving behind the dazzling portrait of this legendary actress, but also making her an important symbol of the American dream.
Christie’s 20th and 21st Century Art Department Chairman Alex Rotter said: “This painting not only transcends the traditional genre of American portraiture, but also spans the art and culture of the 20th century. It can be compared to Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’, da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’, and Picasso’s ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ in art history.”
The work is considered the pinnacle of American pop art, as well as an alternative interpretation of the American dream, combining contemporary idol worship with characteristics such as optimism, human vulnerability, celebrity effects, and idol worship. Undoubtedly, it is one of the rarest and most influential portrait works in history.
What will this work ultimately sell for? Stay tuned for the Christie’s New York auction week in May!
Learn more: Christie’s
