ANDY WARHOL, BROOKLYN BRIDGE (F. & S. II.290), BROOKLYN BRIDGE SERIES SIGNED SCREEN PRINT, 1983
Brooklyn Bridge (F. & S. II.290) is a print by Andy Warhol from 1983 that was created to memorialise the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial in the same year. The commemorative image was produced at the invitation of the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial Commission, Inc. and the original poster was published for the Art Expo art fair of 1983. Additionally, the image was used as the official poster for the citywide event celebrating the 100th anniversary.
Warhol demonstrates his trademark colour block method of screen printing to create a vibrant and flattened representation of the original photograph used for the print. The contrasting hues of blue, yellow, pink, green and orange produce a playful and celebratory depiction of the bridge that is distinctly Warholian.
Unlike much of Warhol’s other work, for this piece the artist uses an offset printing technique that shows a more complex offsetting of the subject. This is reflected in the way that the bridge has been mirrored and projects off into the distance of the picture plane, blurring the lines between reality and representation. Through bold use of colour and composition, the seemingly mundane photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge that has been depicted by a multitude of American artists has been abstracted and transformed into an iconic Pop Art piece.
ABOUT ANDY WARHOL
Andy Warhol (born Andrew Warhola) is a name synonymous with the celebrity culture and mass consumerism which coloured the boulevards of New York City in the Post World War II era. Born into a working class immigrant family in the urban landscape around the bustling metropolis, Warhol’s early life was characterised by a climb up the capitalist rungs of society.
The artist himself noted, “buying is more American than thinking, and I’m as American as they come”, this quote came to demarcate Warhol’s artistic practice as he embraced the commodification of the American Dream. The Pop artist’s beginnings in the business sector gave him the practical skill set to experiment with a more commercial approach to art throughout his career, particularly with regards to screen printing. Read more about Andy Warhol.
