Bald Eagle (F. & S. II.296)
Bald Eagle (F. & S. II.296)
Signed Print
Andy Warhol
Screenprint, 1983
Signed Print Edition of 150
H 97cm x W 97cm
Critical Review
Printed in 1983, Bald Eagle (F. & S. II.296) is a signed screen print in colour by Andy Warhol on Lenox Museum Board. The print depicts a Bald Eagle, the national bird of the United States. The bird is rendered in white and red with a piercing orange beak. Red gestural lines delineate the bird’s figure and feathers, adding texture to the print. The eagle gazes to the left of the composition and stands out against the vibrant blue backdrop. Dominating the centre of the composition, the print captures the beauty and magnificence of this rare bird.
Bald Eagle (F. & S. II.296) is part of the Endangered Species series which was commissioned in 1983 by New York gallerists and environmental activists, Ronald and Frayda Feldman. This series, composed of 10 screen prints, aimed at bringing awareness to the world’s endangered animals. The prints depict various animals, from the Bald Eagle as exemplified in this print, to the Black Rhinoceros and San Francisco Silverspot Butterfly. The series reflects Warhol’s love for animals and nature, he even donated a number of these prints to raise money for various causes supporting wildlife.
The print was made using Warhol’s signature screen printing technique. The dynamic colour composition and use of gestural lines vivifies the Eagle and Warhol’s application of his signature Pop Art aesthetic to the representation of this bird demands the viewer of the print take notice of the rare and endangered bird being depicted. Bald Eagle (F. & S. II.296) resonates powerfully with the contemporary moment in which our natural environment is being threatened by climate change, pollution and deforestation.
