Grapes (F. & S. II.192)

Grapes (F. & S. II.192) is part of the Grapes series, composed of six prints, each of which depicts grapes with a unique colour composition and arrangement. This series reflects Warhol’s interest in the still life genre which marked many of the prints he made in the 1970s. Other series such as Gems and Flowers similarly capture Warhol’s interest in still life subjects. While still life images tend to favour realism, Warhol subverts the expectations of the genre by combining the traditional still life subject- fruit- with his Pop Art aesthetic. Warhol transforms this everyday fruit into an exciting and vibrant print.

The print has a collage-like feel to it due to the geometric colour blocks that compose the backdrop against which the grapes are drawn. Grapes (F. & S. II.192) features Warhol’s signature hand-drawn lines which the artist used to delineate the shape of the grapes, showcasing his excellent draughtsmanship. The emphasis on gestural lines resonates with Warhol’s early career as a freelance illustrator in which he drew similarly everyday objects for fashion magazines such as Glamour, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.