MARILYN MONROE (MONROE) (F. & S. II.27): Andy Warhol screenprint on paper

  • Andy Warhol Marilyn F. & S. II.27 1967 screenprint yellow face blue hair pink background Marilyn Monroe Pop Art print
    Marilyn Monroe (Monroe) (F. & S. II.27), 1967
    Screenprint on paper, 91.4 x 91.4 cm (36 x 36 in.) 250 signed in pencil and numbered with a rubber stamp on verso, plus 26 signed AP and lettered A-Z on verso
    Printer: Aetna Silkscreen Products, Inc., NY, Publisher: Factory Additions, NY
    © The Andy Warhol Foundation
    BACK TO: MARILYN SUITE
     
    In Marilyn (F. & S. II.27), Marilyn Monroe’s face is rendered in a rich, golden yellow that contrasts sharply with a saturated pink background. Her hair is defined in deep indigo tones, framing the face with dramatic shadow and giving the composition a heightened sense of depth. The eyes are accented with vivid pink eyeshadow, while her lips combine dark blue and soft pink, creating a bold focal point at the centre of the image. The interplay of these contrasting colours produces a striking visual intensity, balancing warmth and shadow while reinforcing the stylised, graphic quality of the portrait.
     
    Part of the Marilyn Monroe, 1967, portfolio, published by Factory Additions in New York, this screenprint is based on a publicity still from the 1953 film Niagara. Warhol’s use of silkscreen enabled him to repeat Monroe’s image across multiple variations, each distinguished by shifts in colour rather than composition. In this version, the bold contrasts between yellow, pink, and deep blue emphasise the transformation of Monroe from a photographic subject into a constructed icon, reflecting Warhol’s broader exploration of celebrity, reproduction, and the power of mass media imagery.
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  • "My idea of a good picture is one that's in focus and of a famous person"

     

    - Andy Warhol

    Andy Warhol repeatedly turned to famous figures in his work as a way of examining how identity is shaped by media and public perception. He was drawn to individuals whose images were instantly recognisable and widely reproduced, including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor. By isolating and repeating their likenesses through silkscreen, Warhol treated celebrity portraits in much the same way as commercial products, emphasising their circulation rather than their individuality. In doing so, he blurred the line between fame and commodity, suggesting that in modern culture, people and products are consumed in similar ways.