Andy Warhol
Seated Gentleman
1950

About the Item

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is arguably the most important American artist of the 20th century. He not only defined Pop Art but had an unrivaled influence on artists and image-making. In recent years there has been new scholarship and increasing commercial interest in his early works, material created prior to Pop Art. During the 1950's Warhol established himself in New York City as a trendy illustrator contributing to a wide number of fashion publications and retailers. His simple line drawings were modern and gentle, with a subtle but unmistakably gay touch. In a short period of time, he created an aesthetic that was both versatile and distinctively his. Like the consummate artist that he was, Warhol was frequently drawing. The images he created during this era, independent from his fashion commissions, were romantic, hopeful, and unabashedly gay. Taschen, the legendary art book publisher, recently released the book Andy Warhol: Love, Sex and Desire 1950-1962 which celebrates his drawings of the male form from the pre-Pop era. This drawing is a paradigm of Warhol's mastery of line. The elegant portrait presents the sitter as he gently shifts his torso to meet the viewer's gaze. With the lightest touch, Warhol masterly portrays this male ideal with the details of his natural pose. Unique to this work is the drapery rendered behind the man, capturing the essence of their exchange in what appears to be a relatively formal (perhaps studio) environment. This distinct atmospheric quality is typically omitted in Warhol's line drawings, which tend to focus on his subjects rather than background details. As the Warhol market continues to gallop to a stratosphere beyond, there are fewer and fewer examples of unique, original works in circulation. Untitled "Seated Gentleman" USA, circa 1950s Black ballpoint pen on manila paper Signed by artist, bottom left Stamped on verso by the Estate of Andy Warhol and the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, Inc. and numbered on the reverse. 16.5"H 13.75"W (work) Very good condition. Provenance: The Estate of Andy Warhol

Creator:
Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987, American)
Creation Year:
1950
Dimensions:
Height: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)Width: 13.75 in (34.93 cm)
Medium:
Ballpoint Pen,Paper
Movement & Style:
Pop Art
Period:
1950-1959
Framing:
Framing Options Available
Condition:
Very good condition.
Gallery Location:
Toronto, CA
Reference Number:
Seller: 11-221stDibs: LU215211235052
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Andy Warhol

The name of American artist Andy Warhol is all but synonymous with Pop art, the movement he helped shape in the 1960s. He was phenomenally prolific, and the archive of original photography, prints, drawings, paintings and other art that he left behind is beyond vast.

Andy Warhol is known for his clever appropriation of motifs and images from popular advertising and commercials, which he integrated into graphic, vibrant works that utilized mass-production technologies such as printmaking, photography and silkscreening. Later in his career, Warhol expanded his oeuvre to include other forms of media, founding Interview magazine and producing fashion shoots and films on-site at the Factory, his world-famous studio in New York.

Born and educated in in Pittsburgh, Warhol moved to New York City in 1949 and built a successful career as a commercial illustrator. Although he made whimsical drawings as a hobby during these years, his career as a fine artist began in the mid-1950s with ink-blot drawings and hand-drawn silkscreens. The 1955 lithograph You Can Lead a Shoe to Water illustrates how he incorporated in his artwork advertising styles and techniques, in this case shoe commercials.

As a child, Warhol was often sick and spent much of his time in bed, where he would make sketches and put together collections of movie-star photographs. He described this period as formative in terms of his skills and interests. Indeed, Warhol remained obsessed with celebrities throughout his career, often producing series devoted to a famous face or an object from the popular culture, such as Chairman Mao or Campbell’s tomato soup. The 1967 silkscreen Marilyn 25 embodies his love of bright color and famous subjects.

Warhol was a prominent cultural figure in New York during the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. The Factory was a gathering place for the era’s celebrities, writers, drag queens and fellow artists, and collaboration was common. To this day, Warhol remains one of the most important artists of the 20th century and continues to exert influence on contemporary creators.

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