About this work: In the same way that his Campbell’s soup cans or portraits of Marilyn Monroe have become iconic images of the Pop Art movement, Andy Warhol’s signature illustration style for important magazines from the 1950s through the 1980s was iconic as well. He created in this artistic arena throughout his life. In his last decade, his skill as a commercial draughtsman took many forms. One might find his work on the cover of a magazine or in advertisements benefitting friends and colleagues.

“Over the course of the 1950s, Warhol was awarded numerous industry accolades and worked on a diverse range of commissions. He was sought after not only for the unique style of his illustrations, but also for his sophisticated understanding of how to create a successful advertisement.” [1] His unique ability to distill an object to its most fundamental could be said to underlie every aspect of Warhol’s career.

When commissioned to create and design the cover of the Washington Post Magazine in 1983, illustration remained a pivotal part of Warhol’s creative process. He created two images for the cover, putting his signature style to work on Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin and the Washington Monument. The final unique screenprint of the Tidal Basin was selected for the cover of the magazine on August 14, 1983.

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Cited:

[1] Nicholas Chambers, “Andy Warhol: adman,” in Adman: Warhol Before Pop, ed. Nicholas Chambers (Sidney & Pittsburgh: Art Gallery of New South Wales & The Andy Warhol Museum, 2017), 18.