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Andy Warhol Reigning Queens (Queen Beatrix) (F & S II.334A - 349A)
Meaning & HistoryFor Cecile Whiting, Warhol’s portraits are not about ‘real people at all, but about their public image in its purest form’: the artist is able to utterly transform an official portrait, devoid of creative intent, into a glamorous and exciting tribute to each Monarch.
Reigning Queens is a series of portfolios of four Queens from around the world executed by Warhol in 1985. This suite of four screenprints depicts Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands just five years into her reign, having been inaugurated in 1980. For Warhol’s exceptional refashioning of an early portrait of the Dutch Monarch, and as an example of the artist’s engagement with Royal figures, the series is a seminal late work of the artist’s.
Queen Beatrix appears in her Royal Jewels and dress: a tiara, sash and bedazzling earrings in each version. Strikingly, Warhol plays upon these official and formal adornments and makes them shine as they would in real life. A skilled colourist, by carefully harmonising between Beatrix’s face, the plain background and his blocks of colour, Warhol emphasises Beatrix’s beauty and accessories. It is a visual language of style that recalls his portraits of film stars Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly: in Reigning Queens, Warhol bestows the qualities of beauty icons upon Monarchs and heads of state. Creative and clever, the artist considers the idea that figures in the public eye are all, to some degree, commodified by their public image. For Cecile Whiting, Warhol’s portraits are not about ‘real people at all, but about their public image in its purest form’: the artist is able to utterly transform an official portrait, devoid of creative intent, into a glamorous and exciting tribute to each Monarch.
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Buy or Sell Quen Beatrix by Andy Warhol at Andipa Editions
Buy Queen Beatrix by Andy Warhol
Andipa Editions, as part of Andipa, have been at the forefront of the Warhol market for over 20 years. To enquire about buying a Queen Beatrix print by Andy Warhol, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371.
Sell Queen Beatrix by Andy Warhol
With a global network of active buyers, Andipa Editions are the place to sell your Andy Warhol Queen Beatrix print. Straight-forward and stress-free, we manage the process on your behalf and help to maximise your return. For a complimentary valuation of your Queen Beatrix print, contact us via sales@andipa.com or on +44 (0) 20 7589 2371. To find out more informaton on how to buy Andy Warhol screen prints, contact Andipa Editions.
