Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is the most influential and valuable American artist of the 20th century. Caviar20 has been long championing his 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.
During the 1950s, 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.
Warhol spent a great deal of time among dancers when he first arrived in New York in the early 1950s. His depictions of these young men allowed him to refine his individualistic style. While Warhol's career as a commercial illustrator quickly gained momentum, he struggled to find success as an artist. His first solo exhibition (at the Loft Gallery) opened on October 10, 1954, and featured drawings of the dancer and choreographer, John Butler.
"John Buter Sunning" is a whimsical profile of the dancer. Warhol captures Butler's relaxed expression as he soaks up the sun. Warhol is able to create an evocative image with the simplest arrangement of lines. The figure's eyelashes and eyebrows are luscious, each hair meticulously presented. His hair is equally as defined, the ink variations creating the hairstyle. Behind Butler stands a busy New York City skyline, with buildings, antennas, hotel signs, and a planter pot. Warhol offers a unique perspective in this sweet drawing, making Butler appear larger than life. The drawing is also notable for the inclusion of text throughout the image, both the title and the hotel signs.
Warhol's early portraits largely feature young men, often nude and always playful. Sometimes embellished with decorative flourishes, Warhol's depictions celebrate male beauty. Rarely acknowledging their observer, Warhol's models remain subjects of his fascination. If they revel in their beauty, so too does Warhol. With confident lines, he captures not only a vibrant cast of characters but also something of his own enigmatic self.
Taschen, the legendary publisher, released Andy Warhol: Love, Sex and Desire 1950-1962 which celebrates his drawings of the male form, and has encouraged a new generation of collectors and curators to re-examine this material.
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.
"John Butler Sunning"
USA, circa 1954
Ink on paper
Overall good condition. Full report available on request.
Stamped on verso by the Estate of Andy Warhol and the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board, Inc. and numbered 221.001
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