"Please do not lick this page!" This playful warning is the centrepiece of Andy Warhol’s deliciously vibrant screenprint, Life Savers, from his 1985 Ads series. The portfolio features ten iconic advertisements from the 1950s to the 1980s, each given a Pop Art makeover by Warhol and his master printer, Rupert Jasen Smith. Commissioned and published by Ronald Feldman of Feldman Fine Arts, who worked closely with Warhol throughout the 1980s, the series captures the essence of American commercial culture.
In the Life Savers print, the upper section is filled with three rows of the ring-shaped candies, set against a soft pastel pink background and rendered in warm, saturated colours that make them pop off the page. Below the vibrant sweets, the classic candy packaging is depicted alongside the whimsical message, "Please do not lick this page." Warhol's interpretation highlights the seductive appeal of commercial products, making these Life Savers look even more irresistible than the real thing. Through his use of bold colour and iconic screenprinting techniques, Warhol transforms a simple advertisement into a work of art.
Life Savers is just one of the ten screenprints in Warhol's Ads collection, each representing quintessential aspects of American commercial culture from the latter half of the 20th century. These prints are more than just a showcase of Warhol's creativity and vibrant imagination. With his signature Warholian flair, the pop artist adds a touch of glamour to these appropriated images, offering a critique of the role that commercial media plays in our modern obsession with consumption.