Andy Warhol
Superman F.S. II 260, from Myths, 1981
Screen print in colors with diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board
38 x 38 in
96.5 x 96.5 cm
96.5 x 96.5 cm
Edition of 200 plus 30 AP, 5 PP, 5 EP , 30 TP
“It’s not what you are that counts, it’s what they think you are.”
In creating his Myths series, consisting of ten screen prints adorned with diamond dust, Andy Warhol meticulously chose fantasy characters and imaginary heroes emblematic of an average American childhood. The selection process, rigorous yet discerning, ultimately focused on ten essential characters that resonated with the post-war American youth and the consumerism driving its growth. Icons like Superman, Mickey Mouse, and Howdy Doody, beloved to the extent of becoming ingrained in the American psyche, are central figures in this nostalgic representation of America's enchanted past. From vibrant coloring to dramatic expressions, each screen print within the series exudes American glamour and theatricality.
Warhol's personal history, marked by a childhood neurological disorder, influenced his artistic themes. Memories of being teased and bullied due to the disorder, and finding solace in comic books and movie magazines provided by his mother, shaped his exploration of human awkwardness, alienation, and coping mechanisms in various series, including Myths.
Equipped with a snapshot camera as a child, Warhol's teenage years saw the creation of a darkroom in his basement, and he took tens of thousands of Polaroid photographs throughout his career. In Myths, Warhol used Polaroids to monumentalize celebrities portraying mythological characters, introducing an intimate yet mechanical dimension to the series.
The Myths portfolio features subjects emerging ominously from shadowy backgrounds, painted with colors containing diamond dust. Many were created using original source material, with Warhol taking Polaroids of friends dressed as iconic characters, such as Margaret Hamilton recreating her classic pose as the Wicked Witch in The Wizard Of Oz. Warhol's admiration for Walt Disney, evident in his collection of Disney acetates, is particularly notable in the portrayal of Mickey Mouse, whom he equated with the heights of mythos.
One of the most compelling figures in the series is Superman, depicted as a powerful, dynamic silhouette embodying the dichotomy of outward and inward personas. Warhol's self-portrait as The Shadow and his fascination with Superman reflect his own struggles with identity. The Myths series, embodying Warhol's marriage of American popular culture and powerful screen-printed images, is a personal portrait of his own America.
At auction, individual works from the series have commanded high bids, with Superman leading at $240,000 in January 2024 and a unique trial proof copy reaching $600,000 in the fall of 2023. Mickey Mouse sold for $280,000 in the summer of 2023. Complete sets of Myths prints are rare but have reached $1,000,000, emphasizing the enduring allure of Warhol's iconic representation of American mythology.
February 20, 2024
