Butterfly Lady (Self-Portrait)

A unique drawing by Andy Warhol.

In Drag and Draw: Andy Warhol, The Unknown Fifties, Nina Schleif proposes that this drawing is one of a handful of Warhol self-portraits in “low drag” (2018, 110-17). In each of the three suggested self-portrait drawings reproduced in the book, the male subject has a butterfly on his head (113-15).

Schleif identifies and explains the factors supporting her low drag self-portrait conclusion, including: (1) Warhol created a number of drawings of men in drag at Otto Fenn’s studio and most were based upon Fenn’s photographs; (2) although Warhol did not dress in drag at Fenn’s studio, Fenn took photos of him; (3) the man in low drag in the series of “butterfly drawings” has facial features consistent with Fenn’s studio photos of Warhol, including the basic head shape with silhouette widening toward top and a pronounced chin; (4) at other times, Warhol drew self-portraits in which he put a butterfly on his head; (5) Warhol had a particular affinity for the butterfly and also attributed it to the artist James McNeil Whistler; (6) Warhol lacked appreciation for his appearance and would attach the butterfly to enhance it (110-17).

An early Warhol drawing of his childhood likeness with a butterfly on his head is reproduced in Drag and Draw (116). Another drawing, with Warhol’s face as a “sprite” adorned by a butterfly, is in the collection of The Andy Warhol Museum.

According to art critic and Warhol expert Blake Gopnik, Warhol used butterflies and flowers as “detachable symbols of loveliness” (2015). In this way, the butterfly on the portrait may exemplify Warhol’s belief that surrounding oneself with beauty could make a person (more) beautiful (Rodley 2001, 21:30).