Andy Warhol Turtle (F & S II.360A) For Sale

Turtle is a large screenprint published in 1985, wonderfully rendering a sea turtle in pale purple, pink and turquoise. The work was created to coincide with Harold Pinter’s film, Turtle Diary, but can also be recognised as an extension of Warhol’s 1983 portfolio Endangered Species, wherein he portrayed ten endangered animals, calling attention to their preservation. Warhol’s Turtle has an inherent tactile quality: the grains of sand, the wrinkles on the body, and the shell pattern are all shown in fine detail.  

Though not endangered like Warhol’s Siberian tigers or African Elephants, the protagonists of Turtle Diary try to rescue turtles from the zoo that are held in captivity. In this late stage of the artist’s career, the artist’s portrayal of animals rather than public figures are a refreshing change and one that challenges the notion of his superficiality.