Andy Warhol

The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc., New York
John Marchial, New York
Private Collection
Sotheby's, New York, December 14, 2010, lot 39
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

This work is in very good condition overall. There is light handling and discoloration along the edges, and light wear to the turning edges. The canvas is not lined. Under UV light, there is no evidence of restoration. Framed under Plexigals.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"I adore America. My image is a statement of the symbols of the harsh, impersonal products and brash metallic objects on which America is built today. It is a projection of everything that can be bought and sold, the practical but impermanent symbols that sustain us."
Andy Warhol, Art in America 50, no. 1(1963):42

Comprising humble source material and monochrome palette, the present lot is a dramatic example of Andy Warhol at the pinnacle of his creative life. Be a Somebody with a Body was conceived as part of a series of black and white ad paintings in the 1980s for which Warhol appropriated imagery from advertisements, diagrams, maps, and illustrations in newspapers and magazines. With images of Russian missile bases, maps of Iran and Afghanistan, and common consumer items such as sneakers, hamburgers and motorbikes, they have a continuing uncanny resonance that coolly remarks on American consumer culture. In contrast to the slick, corporate imagery that he appropriated for his 1984 Ads series, the materials of black and white ad paintings are humble in origin and vernacular in style.

Be a Somebody with a Body was originally adapted from an advertisement in a muscle magazine. The work instilled an ironic tone that is inherent to the artist's distinctive style. Warhol combined bold text with fluid but thick brushstrokes to confuse the distinction between man and machine, redefining both the traditional painting technique and the uniform publication of advertisement. The text in the work is declarative and ironic, while the image is suggestive of an accessible yet highly unattainable goal. Firmly printed block text is rendered in contrasting silkscreen inks - the black and white paints allowing the viewer to focus on the explicit visual language of the artist. The image is laid bare on canvas. The stark monochrome composition further alludes to the importance the artist placed on subject matter and the highly exploitative nature of advertising. Warhol's visionary ability to expand infinitely the repertoire of appropriate content for fine art has been his principal legacy and assures his place as one of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century.