Andy Warhol
Letter to the World, 1986 (#389, Martha Graham)
1986

About the Item

Letter to the World (FS.II.389) from the Martha Graham portfolio is a unique trial-proof screenprint on paper, 36 x 36 inches, estate-stamped, initialed and numbered with its authentication number by Tim Hunt verso. The print is outside the main edition of 165 (100 Arabic, 25 Roman, 25 AP, 5 PP and 10 HC). Framed in a contemporary gold leaf, closed-corner frame. LITERATURE F. Feldman, J. Schellmann, and C. Defendi, Andy Warhol Prints: A Catalogue Raisonné: 1962-1987, 4th ed. New York: D.A.P. Inc, 2003, II.387 - 389, pgs 57, 156, 221, 356. Created to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Marth Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in New York, Letter to the World stands to honor the trailblazing woman who created what we know today as modern dance. Named “Dancer of the Century” by TIME magazine, as well as being listed among the female “Icons of the Century” by People magazine, Martha Graham was a force to be reckoned with. After founding her dance company and school in 1962, Graham went on to create 181 ballets and developed her iconic dance technique. Throughout her 70 years of creating dances, Graham received numerous honors and awards, collaborated with artists, composers, fashion designers, actors and directors, as well as her company was the training ground for many well-known modern choreographers. According to The Martha Graham Dance Company, “her approach to dance and theater revolutionized the art form and her innovative physical vocabulary have irrevocably influenced dance worldwide… Martha Graham’s dancing and choreography exposed the depth of human emotion through movements that were sharp, angular, jagged, and direct.” Just as Martha Graham’s exceptional talent and technique left a lasting impact, Warhol’s extraordinary artistic vision and creations distinguished him from his contemporaries. Warhol’s deep admiration for icons and the captivating realm of celebrity culture found its perfect match in Martha Graham, establishing her as an ideal subject for his artistic ventures. Based on photographs taken by Barbara Morgan, Warhol’s Letter to the World portfolio consists of 3 screenprints featuring imagery of the renowned Martha Graham Technique. Letter to the World, also known as ‘The Kick,’ is a unique trial proof that differs from the published portfolio edition. Trial-proofs for the Martha Graham portfolio were not originally included in the edition or signed by Warhol, however, the catalog raisonné attests to their existence (in unknown number). This instance is estate-stamped and initialed verso by Tim Hunt.

Creator:
Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987, American)
Creation Year:
1986
Dimensions:
Height: 44.5 in (113.03 cm)Width: 44.5 in (113.03 cm)
Medium:
Paper,Screen
Movement & Style:
Pop Art
Period:
20th Century
Condition:
generally excellent condition with some minor handling dents, surface scratches and corner tip wear top left and right.
Gallery Location:
Greenwich, CT
Reference Number:
Seller: GRWAR0389TP1stDibs: LU2664213755342
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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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