Andy Warhol

The Estate of Andy Warhol
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc., New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above

This work is in very good condition overall. Each Polaroid is secured to the matte using four Mylar clips that are concealed by the top matte. The Polaroids have faded slightly with age. There are scattered pinpoint white spots that are inherent to the artist's chosen medium. Each framed separately under glass.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

“If you want to know about Andy Warhol, then just look at the surface of my pictures, my movies and me and there I am; there’s nothing in between.” Andy Warhol

Photography played an integral role in Andy Warhol’s oeuvre, providing the starting point for nearly every composition ever produced. The advent of the Polaroid Big Shot camera in 1971, with its instant delivery of a finished print, was an ideal tool for the artist, allowing him to see right away the results of his sessions; he could tote the camera to parties, photographing celebrities, socialites and friends alike, and similarly keep several (priced at the reasonable cost of $19.95) at The Factory to use for “formal” portrait sittings. Instantly changing the art historical landscape of portraiture and self-portraiture, the Polaroid camera further mechanized Warhol’s process, appealing to his sense of urgency, ease and speed. Acting as the point of genesis for any new work, the Polaroid camera is to Warhol as preparatory drawings were to Leonardo da Vinci; in both lies the genius of each artist’s groundbreaking output.

Sotheby’s is delighted to offer a selection of Polaroids that spans two decades of the artist’s career and reinforces Warhol’s fascination with seriality and repetition. Exuding casual spontaneity, glamour and the rigidity of formal portraiture, the following lots illustrate exactly how focused Warhol’s eye was to perceiving the reality hidden beneath the surface. While Warhol had mechanized the production of his works by the use of assistants in The Factory, the Polaroids present a uniquely intimate portrayal of Warhol—both behind and in front of the camera.