Flower 66 (Flowers Portfolio)
Screen print on paper
91 x 91 cm
Not For Sale
Andy Warhol’s Flowers 66, 1970 is part of Andy Warhol’s Flowers portfolio. Each flower is comprised of two tones—each is pink, paired with scarlet, bright orange, or yellow—as if there are overlapping flowers. Warhol’s Flowers 66 seems to display a sense of movement, the tones from the flowers seeping into the grass, all against an azure background. Warhol’s Flowers 66 is a unique work in Andy Warhol’s renowned Flowers portfolio. Andy Warhol’s Flowers is based on a photo by Patricia Caulfield that appeared in the June 1966 issue of the magazine Popular Photography. The original image was cropped and the colors inverted before Warhol added washes of vibrant dyes to the flower petals by hand. The flowers depicted are hibiscus flowers, specifically the mandrinette. Flowers is often viewed as a departure from Warhol’s typical work, which is known for centering around celebrities and well-known brands. The original image was not particularly famous before his appropriation of it, and the floral subject matter is not particularly related to pop culture or commercialism. However, flowers are a subject that Warhol continually revisits in his ouevre. His work with advertisements are made powerful due to their contexts, but flowers are timeless. This is undoubtedly a reason why the Flowers series remains one of Warhol’s most popular portfolios.