ANDY WARHOL, MOBILGAS (F. & S. II.350), ADS, SIGNED PRINT, EDITION OF 190, 1985
Printed in 1985, Mobilgas (f & S. II. 350) is a screen print by Andy Warhol that captures Warhol’s fascination with American commercial culture. The print features the Mobilgas logo rendered on a white sign against a blue backdrop. Yellow gestural lines contrast with the red body of the mythical winged horse, Pegasus, in the centre print. The colour contrast accentuates the body of the creature originating from Greek mythology, making it the focal point of the print. This technique adds depth to the screen print which differs from the flat style of Warhol’s earlier, more ‘mechanic’ prints, such as the Campbell soup series.
Mobilgas (F. & S. II. 350) is one of a series of ten screen prints in Warhol’s Ads series, produced by the artist two years before his death. The inspiration for this series can be traced back to Warhol’s early career as a commercial illustrator in New York which sparked his interest in commercial and consumer culture. Printed on Lenox Museum Board, this print exemplifies how Warhol transformed corporate advertisements from the 1950s into desirable works of art. Elevating everyday advertisements to the status of art, Warhol breaks down the boundary between high and low culture, prompting one to consider what can be classified as art.
Warhol’s use of bold and vibrant colours in this print reflects a characteristic element of his artistic style. Warhol adopts everyday and commonplace imagery but reinvigorates these quotidian images with colour, turning ordinary objects and symbols into Pop Art icons.
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ABOUT ANDY WARHOL
Widely considered to be the father of Pop Art, Andy Warhol has influenced countless artists, designers and musicians and become an icon of the 20th century. Known as much for his look as his art, his name is synonymous with the celebrity culture and mass consumerism which came to define the American Dream. Learn more about Andy Warhol.
