John Wayne ( F. & S. II.377) (unique)
John Wayne ( F. & S. II.377) (unique)
Signed Print
Andy Warhol
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Medium: Screenprint
Year: 1986
Size: H 91cm x W 91cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Meaning & Analysis
Printed in 1986, this unique signed screen print by Warhol depicts a portrait of famous actor, John Wayne, who rose to fame through his starring role in Hollywood Westerns. The print is rendered in unconventional bright colours against a white backdrop, with the addition of a pale green colour to Wayne's scarf and vivid orange colour used for the skin. John Wayne is shown in his iconic cowboy persona, complete with a Stetson hat and necktie, and is holding a revolver, pointing it towards the right side of the composition, in the direction of his gaze.
Like other works in Warhol's Cowboys And Indians series, John Wayne ( F. & S. II.377) (unique) is emblematic of Warhol's choice to depict archetypal figures and objects that capture America’s romanticised and ahistorical vision of the American West. This unique version of the print offers a slightly different colour way to the regular edition and, as such, involves the viewer in Warhol's creative vision.
As Warhol expert Richard Polsky explains: “I have seen other versions of John Wayne, including one with a pink scarf. While it was attractive, it didn't have the same visual impact as the one with the green scarf. It probably has something to do with visual fundamentals and colour theory. The Interaction of Color, by the artist and teacher Josef Albers, discusses how the placement of one colour (or next to it can alter the appearance of the original colour. This is why the green scarf in this John Wayne adds a whole new dimension to the print.”
Andy Warhol was a leading figure of the Pop Art movement and is often considered the father of Pop Art. Born in 1928, Warhol allowed cultural references of the 20th century to drive his work. From the depiction of glamorous public figures, such as Marilyn Monroe, to the everyday Campbell’s Soup Can, the artist challenged what was considered art by blurring the boundaries between high art and mass consumerism. Warhol's preferred screen printing technique further reiterated his obsession with mass culture, enabling art to be seen as somewhat of a commodity through the reproduced images in multiple colour ways.
