Cologne Cathedral (F. & S. II.361)
Cologne Cathedral (F. & S. II.361)
Signed Print
Andy Warhol
Screenprint, 1985
Signed Print Edition of 60
H 100cm x W 80cm
Critical Review
Cologne Cathedral (F. & S. II.361) is a signed screen print with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board produced by Andy Warhol, one of the leading figures of the Pop Art movement. Made in 1985, the print comes in an edition size of 60. In this print, Warhol uses his screen printing technique to render an image of the magnificent Cologne Cathedral. Set against a bold, red backdrop, Warhol intentionally simplifies the intricate details of the Gothic architecture, making the cathedral almost unrecognisable. Warhol uses a variety of coloured lines to draw the cathedral and adds layers of colour to the print making it a dynamic and visually stimulating composition.
The print can be seen alongside three other screen prints that are part of the Cologne Cathedral collection, all of which depict the cathedral. By rendering the cathedral in such bright and vibrant colours and using crayon-like lines to obscure the details of the original image, Warhol produces an original artistic rendition of the cathedral. The lack of detail is also a way for the artist to draw attention to the form of the cathedral and focus on the general beauty of the religious building.
Rendering the cathedral in his Pop Art style, Warhol transports the building which carries tremendous historical and religious heritage into the realm of the popular. The cathedral is made into a Pop Art icon like Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans and Diamond Dust Shoes.
