ANDY WARHOL, DOUC LANGUR, VANISHING ANIMALS SERIES, SCREEN PRINT IN COLOURS ON LENOX MUSEUM BOARD, 1986
Douc Langur is a print by Andy Warhol, produced as part of a series of prints of animals to illustrate the German-born, American pathologist and geneticist Kurt Benirschke’s book, Vanishing Animals from 1986. The book had 15 chapters that each focused on one animal of a critically endangered species, including Galapagos Tortoise, California Condor, Mouse Armadillo, Whooping Crane, Puerto Rican Parrot, Komodo Monitor, Paraguayan Peccary, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Sommering Gazelle, Okapi, and the La Plata River Dolphin.
Warhol’s print features an image of a Douc Langur in his characteristic late graphic style. Set against a magenta backdrop, Warhol outlines the animal in yellow hand-drawn lines, contouring the original photographic image. Immortalising the image of an endangered animal into a Pop Art icon, using a vivid colour palette and simplified form, Warhol’s print is impossible to ignore and works as a permanent reminder of the species’ closeness to extinction.
As with is Endangered Species Series (1983), Warhol’s elevation of these animals to celebrity status through his distinct Pop Art style, helped to raise awareness and money for their protection. Combining his passion for environmental issues with his fascination with the mechanism of fame, this work makes clear the philanthropic power of Warhol’s screen prints.
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.