Edition of 250 signed in ball-point pen and numbered with a rubber stamp on verso. Plus, 50 AP (artist proofs) signed and numbered in pencil on verso; some also signed in ball-point pen. From portfolio of 10 screenprints.

The ‘Mao series’, created in 1972, is a testament to Warhol’s creativity. Warhol’s distinctive approach not only reinterprets a historical and influential portrait but also reshapes our understanding of the relationship between art, propaganda, power, and pop culture. The Mao series stands as a testament to Warhol’s ability to merge artistic innovation with cultural critique. The silkscreen process highlights the relentless repetition characteristic of a propaganda machine, while the bold colours and expressionistic details prompt reflection on the interplay between political power and the visual language of capitalist advertising within a consumer culture. Warhol timed the creation of his Mao series to coincide with President Nixon’s politically significant and highly publicised meeting with Chairman Mao Zedong in communist China in 1972, an event that marked the end of years of diplomatic isolation between the two nations. The series reflects Warhol’s fascination with fame and celebrity. By using one of the century’s most recognizable images—the portrait of Mao, which was reproduced extensively during the Cultural Revolution (1966–76)—Warhol draws intriguing parallels between the power of Communist political propaganda and the influence of advertising in a capitalist society