B old, dynamic images by Pop pioneers Richard Hamilton and Andy Warhol are joined by some of the new wave “neo-Pop” artworks they inspired, including prints by New Yorkers Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others. Below, our specialists highlight some of the iconic contemporary works on offer, with low estimates ranging from £8,000 to £120,000.

Inspired by American artist Richard Artschwager’s cityscapes, Hamilton experimented with his own take on “building portraits”. Having carefully studied Frank Lloyd Wright’s plans for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the British artist created a series of prints and multiples based on the unique façade, including this bold rendering of the iconic structure, which was expertly screenprinted from five stencils.

By employing Benday dot patterns and stripes as modelling devices, Lichtenstein developed a fanciful Pop chiaroscuro that adds both depth and solidity, while supplying two-dimensional colour and texture. In an interview with David Sylvester, the artist said of his method, “It’s a little bit the way chiaroscuro isn’t just shadows but a way of combining the figure and the background…that’s interesting to me.” (David Sylvester, Some Kind of Reality: Roy Lichtenstein, p. 38)

Draped in a constellation of jewels, Warhol’s technicolor Queen Elizabeth II looks every bit the modern monarch. Accented with diamond dust, this regal image from the artist’s Reigning Queens (Royal Edition) portfolio is based on the official photograph taken to commemorate the 1977 Silver Jubilee.

Using this famous portrait of the Queen as a source of inspiration, Warhol fulfilled his personal artistic desire: “I really would still rather do just a silkscreen of the face without all the rest, but people expect just a little bit more.” (Barry Blinderman, Modern Myths: An Interview with Andy Warhol, Arts, October 1981, p. 145)

Lady Liberty, the contemporary American artist’s preferred muse, is honoured in Haring’s 1986 screenprint, which celebrates freedom and inclusivity. The fresh, eye-catching colours on this particular impression best demonstrate the artist’s talent for creating saturated images that continue to capture wide public appeal.

Published by the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, this striking screenprint is inspired by one of the artist’s favourite paintings from his own oeuvre, also entitled Cabeza. Unveiled at his solo show at Patti Astor’s Fun Gallery, Cabeza both invites and defies interpretation with its raw combination of language, iconography and colour.

Past Auction

Prints & Multiples

19 March 2020 | 10:30 AM GMT | London