Andy Warhol (1928-1987) Lot n° 20

Andy Warhol (1928-1987), Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands from the series 'Reigning Queens' (Royal Edition) (1985), signed, inscribed, and numbered in pencil 'R AP 1/5 Andy Warhol' (lower right), silkscreen in colours and diamond dust on Lenox Museum Board, image & full sheet 100x80 cm, Published in 1985 by George C. P. Mulder, Amsterdam, and printed by Rupert Jason Smith, New York, in an edition of 30 plus five artist proofs. Provenance: Anon. sale, Sotheby's Amsterdam, 6 December 2000, Lot 421, where acquired by the present owner. Literature: -F.Feldman, J.Schellmann, 'Andy Warhol. Prints. A Catalogue Raisonné 1962-1987', 2003, p. 143, cat. no. II.340. -G.Mulder, 'Reigning Queens, Andy Warhol', 1985, p. 20. Andy Warhol: “Everybody knows that I’m a Queen” Warhol created the images of Queen Beatrix in 1985 as part of his largest portfolio of screen-prints on paper, ‘Reigning Queens’. The subject matter of the series is the four ruling queens in the world at that date – Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, and Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland. Warhol’s ‘Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands’ shows the monarch at the start of her rule; when he created the print, she was only a few years into her reign. Lots 20, 21, 22, and 23 are from the ‘Royal Edition’ of the ‘Reigning Queens’ portfolio, which is sprinkled with ‘diamond dust’ – fine particles of cut or crushed glass which sparkle in the light like diamonds. Warhol was disappointed at the opening of his ‘Reigning Queens’ series, calling it “lowdown and tacky.” “[The prints] were supposed to be only for Europe—nobody here cares about royalty and it’ll just be another bad review,” he lamented in his diary. Warhol’s observation is somewhat surprising considering that four years prior to the release of his portfolio, Diana Spencer was crowned Princess of Wales. Her worldwide popularity in the 1980’s inspired a fascination with royalty in America that remains to this day. Therefore, the ‘Reigning Queens’ screen-prints continued to gain recognition over time. The idea for his royal portraits was not Warhol’s. It was former gallery owner, the Dutchman George Mulder, who, in a New York bar, suggested the idea and linked Warhol with the project. In an interview, Fiona Russell Powel reminds Warhol of this: Powel:”and you’ve been working on a set of prints called Queens.” Warhol: ‘“yes, I’ve been doing that”. Powel: “Are you one of them?”. Warhol: “Er, er, oh well, everybody knows that I’m a queen…but the prints are one of royal ones and stuff. There are just four queens”…. The lot numbers (20-23) will also be auctioned together as lot 100. In this case the single lot numbers (20-23) are only bid under reserve and are afterwards recalled again with the total surcharge sum. For additional information please contact info@venduehuis.com.