安迪·沃荷

Gift of the artist to the present owner in 1978

Andy Warhol’s portrait of Judy Garland exemplifies not only his fascination with the glamor of celebrity culture but also embodies Warhol’s personal interest in the vulnerability of this luminous star. Taken from a head shot at the height of her fame and produced by Warhol approximately ten years after her untimely death, this late 1970s portrait introduced Garland into the ranks of Warhol icons such as Marilyn, Jackie, and Liz, whose individual myths and tragic lives preoccupied this artist throughout his career.

Warhol’s use of Judy Garland as a subject reflected his passion for the complex nature of fame and stardom. His interest in the actress and musical legend stemmed from his childhood; his friend Elaine Baumann reflected, “He would write fan letters to Truman Capote and Judy Garland.” (Victor Bockris, The Life and Death of Andy Warhol, London, 1989, p. 86) Growing up in a society dominated by television and media, Warhol came to venerate pop culture icons, and his obsession with celebrity came to monopolize his persona. As a darling of both the stage and screen, Garland captured the imagination of young Warhol as well as the entire wolrd. Her enchanting charm and inspiring beauty are reflected in Warhol’s appropriation of her likeness.

Done in his signature silkscreen technique, this colorful rendering characterizes Garland's public role as a product of the media for consumption by the masses, akin to Warhol's famous cans of Campbell’s soup. Yet this work is distinguished from Warhol’s earlier mass-produced images with their machine-like precision by the vivid brushstrokes framing Garland’s face. This more expressive and vibrant approach is typical of the best of Warhol’s portraits of the 1970s. Warhol chose to depict Garland not as the girl-next-door child star of her celebrated early career, but as a mature star of extraordinary style and status, adorned with jewels and fur, crowned by glossy black hair, and made up in classic Hollywood style with her expressive arched eyebrow.

Garland always held a special place in Warhol’s imagination, not least because of her widely publicized struggles. Finding similarities between Garland and his beloved muse Edie Sedgwick, Warhol wrote, “Edie and Judy had something in common – a way of getting everyone totally involved in their problems… They had dramas going right around the clock, and everybody loved to help them through it all. Their problems made them even more attractive.” (Andy Warhol and Pat Hackett, POPism: The Warhol Sixties, New York, 1980, pp. 132-133) The underlying human weakness that Warhol saw in this larger than life figure made Garland relatable to the public and transformed her into a major and enduring icon. Her massive following included many members of the camp and gay communities, who revered and worshipped her for her outsized talent and heart. It was Garland's diversity of persona, from innocent wide-eyed girl to suffering and vulnerable woman, which allowed her to resonate with so many. Warhol’s decision to create her portrait and celebrate her legacy so near to the anniversary of her death evokes a sense of nostalgia, a characteristic often associated by Warhol with celebrity.

To Warhol, Garland became more than just a superstar figure to admire from afar. He had the opportunity to meet the star in 1965 and recalled, “To meet a person like Judy whose real was so unreal was a thrilling thing. She could turn everything on and off in a second; she was the greatest actress you could imagine every second of her life.” (Ibid., pp. 132-133) In this portrait, Warhol shares his special relationship with Garland with the world. She stands as both a symbol of the highest ranks of stardom and an embodiment of human vulnerability, revered by Warhol as one of the true goddesses in his pantheon of female stars.