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Artworks
Andy Warhol
John Wayne (F & S II.377), 1986Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board.91.4 x 91.4 cm.
36 x 36 in.Edition of 250, 50 AP, 15 PP, 15 HC, 35 TP10 numbered in Roman numerals, signed and numbered in pencil.There are 35 TP Signed and numbered in pencil.£190,000 GBPCowboys and Indians is a portfolio by Andy Warhol that juxtaposes less familiar Native American symbols with instantly recognizable images of iconic American figures. Through this series, Warhol offers a...Cowboys and Indians is a portfolio by Andy Warhol that juxtaposes less familiar Native American symbols with instantly recognizable images of iconic American figures. Through this series, Warhol offers a satirical commentary on the mythologization of the American West, choosing to present a romanticised and idealised version rather than depicting Native Americans in their authentic context. This portrayal reflects the popular vision of the American West as seen in books, movies, and television, emphasising Warhol's focus on the mythic rather than the historical.
In Warhol's portrayal, Wayne is depicted as a cowboy, complete with a handgun, necktie, and Stetson hat. His face is partially obscured, emphasising his stoic, iconic image. Warhol’s use of repetitive imagery and vibrant colours, techniques also seen in his Marilyn series, amplifies Wayne’s celebrity status while critiquing the commodification of famous figures in popular culture. This approach, characterised by Warhol’s signature screen-printing technique, blends creative abstraction with photographic detail.
Warhol’s choice of John Wayne underscores his commentary on American culture and the idolization of movie stars. Wayne, emblematic of traditional American masculinity, serves as the perfect subject for exploring themes of celebrity, identity, and the commercialization of fame. The Cowboys and Indians series thus highlights Warhol’s exploration of how America’s romanticised and often inaccurate portrayal of the West is both created and consumed through media and celebrity culture.