ANDY WARHOL, HOWDY DOODY (F. & S. II.263), MYTHS SERIES, SCREEN PRINT IN COLOURS WITH DIAMOND DUST ON LENOX MUSEUM BOARD, 1981
Howdy Doody (F. & S. II.263) is a screen print from Andy Warhol’s famous Myths series from 1981 that shows 10 images of fictional icons from American popular culture. In this print, Warhol depicts the popular freckle-faced marionette Howdy Doody from the children’s television show of the same name, aired from the 1940s through to the 1960s.
Unlike much of his other work that appropriate imagery from the mass media, the images in the Myths series are based on a reproductions of original Polaroid photographs taken by Warhol himself. Calling upon actors and friends to play the roles of these fantastical characters, Warhol went through an elaborate process involving make up and costumes to create the resulting dynamic prints. Taken form 1950s television and old Hollywood films, the series works to display a universal view of America’s once enthralling past. It is said that each character in the Myths Series is representative of a different component of Warhol’s personality.
Howdy Doody (F. & S. II.263) shows the fictional character in vivid primary colours set against a contrasting dark backdrop, providing the figure with an illuminous glow. Warhol also uses his trademark crayon-like line drawing to contour the image, emphasising the graphic style.
Find out more about Myths by Andy Warhol.
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.
