Beethoven (F. & S. II.392)
Beethoven (F. & S. II.392)
Unsigned Print
Andy Warhol
£80,000-£120,000Value Indicator
$170,000-$250,000 Value Indicator
$150,000-$220,000 Value Indicator
¥770,000-¥1,160,000 Value Indicator
€90,000-€140,000 Value Indicator
$820,000-$1,230,000 Value Indicator
¥15,070,000-¥22,610,000 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
TradingFloor
Track this artwork in realtime
Watch artwork, manage valuations, track your portfolio and return against your collection
Track auction value trend
Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2024 | Ketterer Kunst Hamburg | Germany | |||
| September 2023 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| June 2016 | Van Ham Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| June 2015 | Van Ham Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| November 2013 | Van Ham Fine Art Auctions | Germany | |||
| September 2012 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| June 2011 | Phillips London | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
Printed in 1985, Beethoven (F. & S. II.392) is a screen print by Andy Warhol that captures his keen interest in celebrities and icons of popular culture. The print features an image of the famous composer Ludwig van Beethoven rendered in uncharacteristic bold and vibrant colours which stand out against a dark backdrop. The composer’s concentrated gaze is intensified as his face is rendered in a bold pink which contrasts with the cool blue of his shirt collar and pastel pink hair.
Beethoven(F. & S. II.392) is one of a portfolio of four screen prints in Warhol’s Beethoven series, produced by the artist shortly before his death in 1987. The broad colour spectrum, unique to each of the prints, demonstrates Warhol’s skilful manipulation of images. Indeed, in this print, Warhol transforms the classical composer into a stylish 1980s pop icon.
Warhol took this image of Beethoven from the 1820 portrait of the composer by Joseph Karl Stieler. Stieler’s portrait became one of the most iconic images of Beethoven and this choice of image reflects Warhol’s obsession with icons of popular culture. Warhol was fascinated with celebrities, however the subject of this print differs from his more frequent depiction of movie stars, such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.
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.
