Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is the most influential and valuable American artist of the 20th century. Caviar20 has been championig his inimitable works on paper from the 1950s. We believe this is an important, and for the time being, accessible and under-appreciated part of his legacy.
This masterfully executed portrait shows a lanky young man propped against a railing. With ideal features and a timeless elegance, the figure commands the composition with his stance and charm. His proper clothing with the distinctive flap collar, along with a carefully-coiffed appearance cast the man as a sailor. Shadows rendered in lines along the edge of his hair convey the stark contrast of a sunny day spent at sea.
Warhol's linework in this portrait shows his hand wonderfully; with thin sections applied confidently, and ink running in places where he considered his next move. The figure's hands are fantastically intertwined, in tune with Warhol's fascination with hands (see another example here). We can confidently date this drawing to circa 1954, as it is around 1955 that Warhol embraces the ball-point pen.
During the 1950's Warhol established his reputation in New York City as an illustrator for numerous fashion publications and businesses. The images he created "off the clock" from his advertising commissions were romantic sketches, daydreams of crushes, hunks, and friends. His 1956 exhibition, Studies for a Boy Book, failed commercially because of the queer and erotic subject matter.
In recent years there has been a new wave of scholarship and commercial interest in the early work created prior to Pop Art. As the Warhol market continues to accelerate, there are fewer examples of these unique original drawings in circulation.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
Untitled (Male Figure / Sailor)
USA, circa 1950
Ink and graphite on scrap paper
23.5"H 17.75"W (sheet)
27.75"H 21.25"W (framed)
Framed with museum glass
Overall good condition. Full report available on request.
Provenance: The Andy Warhol Foundation
Stamped on verso by the Estate of Andy Warhol and the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, Inc. and numbered ARD401.006
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