ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Mao #99197236 x 36 in.(91.44 x 91.44 cm) color screenprint
Provenance
Hamilton SelwayPrivate Collection
Literature
Frayda Feldman & Jorg Schellmann, Andy Warhol Prints: A Catalogue Raisonne: 1962-1987, New York, 2003, no. II.9980,000
Andy Warhol’s Mao (1972) is one of the artist’s most iconic and provocative screenprints, reflecting his fascination with the intersection of political power and celebrity culture. This impression, numbered 244/250, comes from the regular edition of 250, in addition to 50 artist’s proofs. Warhol based the image on the widely circulated official portrait of Chairman Mao Zedong, a figure whose likeness was omnipresent in China during the Cultural Revolution. By reimagining the image through his vivid Pop palette, Warhol transformed a symbol of political authority into a mass-produced cultural icon.
In this version, Mao’s face is rendered in a striking deep blue, offset by a green shirt and set against a turquoise background. The bold chromatic choices infuse the portrait with both drama and irony, destabilizing the original propagandistic authority of the image. Warhol further heightens this tension by juxtaposing flat, mechanical silkscreen layers with painterly flourishes, blurring the line between mass production and individual expression.
The Mao series marked a new chapter in Warhol’s career in the 1970s, shifting from Hollywood stars to figures of global influence. Today, these works are regarded as essential statements on the nature of power, fame, and the pervasive reach of the image in contemporary culture.
In this version, Mao’s face is rendered in a striking deep blue, offset by a green shirt and set against a turquoise background. The bold chromatic choices infuse the portrait with both drama and irony, destabilizing the original propagandistic authority of the image. Warhol further heightens this tension by juxtaposing flat, mechanical silkscreen layers with painterly flourishes, blurring the line between mass production and individual expression.
The Mao series marked a new chapter in Warhol’s career in the 1970s, shifting from Hollywood stars to figures of global influence. Today, these works are regarded as essential statements on the nature of power, fame, and the pervasive reach of the image in contemporary culture.