Beethoven (F. & S. II.391)
Beethoven (F. & S. II.391)
Unsigned Print
Andy Warhol
£80,000-£120,000Value Indicator
$170,000-$250,000 Value Indicator
$150,000-$220,000 Value Indicator
¥780,000-¥1,160,000 Value Indicator
€90,000-€140,000 Value Indicator
$830,000-$1,240,000 Value Indicator
¥15,190,000-¥22,780,000 Value Indicator
$110,000-$160,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 60
Year: 1987
Size: H 102cm x W 102cm
Signed: No
Format: Unsigned Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | Bonhams Los Angeles | United States | |||
| November 2019 | Van Ham Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| October 2018 | Phillips New York | United States | |||
| June 2016 | Van Ham Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| October 2014 | Phillips New York | United States | |||
| May 2014 | Van Ham Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| December 2003 | Christie's London | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
Printed in 1985, Beethoven(F. & S. II.391) is a screen print by Andy Warhol that captures his keen interest in celebrities and popular culture. The print features an image of the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven rendered in an uncharacteristic amalgam of colours. Beethoven’s serious gaze is intensified as his face is rendered in a cool blue which stands out against his white shirt and hair. Warhol superimposes a sheet of music over the portrait, however the subtly coloured red and pink notes ensure that Beethoven’s portrait is not obscured.
Beethoven(F. & S. II.391) is part of a portfolio of four screen prints in Warhol’s Beethoven series, produced by the artist shortly before his death in 1987. Depicting a classical composer departs from the more frequent prints of movie stars, such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, that Warhol is often remembered for. Nevertheless, Warhol’s iconic Pop Art style transforms the classical composer into a stylish 1980s pop icon.
Warhol uses the 1820 portrait of the composer by Joseph Karl Stieler as his source of material for the print. This was one of the most well-known images of Beethoven, and Warhol’s choice of this image reflects his obsession with icons of popular culture.
Andy Warhol was a leading figure of the Pop Art movement and is often considered the father of Pop Art. Born in 1928, Warhol allowed cultural references of the 20th century to drive his work. From the depiction of glamorous public figures, such as Marilyn Monroe, to the everyday Campbell’s Soup Can, the artist challenged what was considered art by blurring the boundaries between high art and mass consumerism. Warhol's preferred screen printing technique further reiterated his obsession with mass culture, enabling art to be seen as somewhat of a commodity through the reproduced images in multiple colour ways.
