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Andy WarholGerald Holding His Knees1950
1950
About the Item
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is arguably the most important American artist of the 20th century. He not only defined Pop Art but had an unrivalled influence on artists and image-making.
In recent years there has been new scholarship and increasing commercial interest in Andy Warhol's early works, material created prior to Pop Art.
During the 1950s Warhol established his name in New York City as a trendy illustrator contributing to a wide number of fashion publications and retailers. His simple line drawings were modern and gentle, with a subtle but unmistakably gay touch. In a short period of time, he created an aesthetic that was both versatile and distinctively his.
Like the consummate artist that he was, Warhol was frequently drawing. The images he created independently from the fashion commission were romantic, hopeful, and unabashedly gay.
This drawing is a paradigm of Warhol's mastery of line and gentle whimsy. A handsome man holds his knees to his chest as he peers forward with a contemplative gaze. With the lightest touch, Warhol masterly portrays this young man in a way that is both masculine and a bit vulnerable.
Unique to this work is the inclusion of a diamond-shaped motif behind the man. This distinct aesthetic flourish is uncommon Warhol's line drawings, which tend to focus on his subjects rather than background details. Was this an element of fabric, a pillow or beach towel that Warhol's subject rests upon?
Regardless of how you interpret this element, this is one of the finest Warhol drawings from the 1950's that we have handled to date.
Questions about this piece? Contact us.
Visit our Toronto gallery on Thursdays or by appointment.
"Untitled" aka "Gerald Holding His Knees"
USA, Circa 1950
Black ballpoint pen on manila paper
17"H 13.75" W (sheet)
23.25" H 19.25" W (framed)
Framed with museum glass.
Stamped on verso by the Estate of Andy Warhol and the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, Inc. and numbered 88.509 Sk.S2, bottom right.
Overall very good condition. Detailed condition report by request.
Provenance: The Estate of Andy Warhol
- Creator:Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987, American)
- Creation Year:1950
- Dimensions:Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)Width: 13.75 in (34.93 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Overall very good condition. Detailed condition report by request.
- Gallery Location:Toronto, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: 12-241stDibs: LU215215506852
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.
Find a collection of original Andy Warhol art on 1stDibs.
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