Marilyn
Monroe

Throughout his career, Warhol made nearly 800 printed images on paper in addition to hundreds of trial proofs and unique variants of each of his portfolios. His work contributed significantly to what has been described as the ‘print boom’ of the 1960s, and Warhol later went on to set up his print publishing company Factory Additions, which continued to issue portfolios of his most recognisable themes.

The Marilyn series is a quintessential example of Warhol’s obsession with celebrity culture and repetition. His distinctive technique in screen printing, combined with the artist’s energy and willingness to self-publicise, allowed Warhol to play a significant role in redirecting the course of art history. The prevalence and proliferation of Warhol’s Marilyn revived the actress’s reputation in popular culture, whilst helping to secure Warhol as a celebrity within the commercial world he sought to portray.

Andy Warhol was fascinated by celebrity culture & its influence on contemporary society. Famous women, particularly actresses & it-girls such as Ingrid Bergman, Liz Taylor, Edie Sedgwick & of course Marilyn Monroe, held a special allure for Warhol.

Of all the stars in America at the time, Marilyn Monroe was arguably the most famous & recognisable. This recognition made Monroe the perfect subject as she reflected the elevation of certain indidviduals in society as products or symbols, represenative of the consumer culture that dominated American society post-World War 2.

Warhol therefore chose to portray the biggest & brightest stars of the time, highlighting their beauty & otherworldly qualities; by extension continuing the mythos that the mass media had created that surrounded these iconic figures.

Warhol painted Marilyn two weeks after her death, the repetition of her image a nod to mass production & the profileration of her image throughout the media. The dehumanising aspect of celebrity culture was a focal point for Warhol, highlighting this was perhaps an attempt to make the viewer consider the person behind the image. The repetition of image also lends itself to religious iconography, with saints & matyrs often being painted at scale & with intense frequency - perhaps a comment on Hollywood stars now being worshipped more frequently than traditional religious icons.

In Marilyn Monroe's iconic countenance, Warhol found the perfect figure to hold a mirror up to the times he found himself living through.

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