Marilyn Diptych – Andy Warhol

Marilyn Dytpich 2

Andy Warhol, born in 1928, is said to be the most influential of Pop-artists of all times. He used to explore the relationship between artistic expression, commercial culture and the worshipping of celebrities. At the start of his career he started using the silk-screen process in order to transfer photographs to the canvas. This is when, in 1962, he created one of his most famous art pieces; Marilyn Diptych. The piece features Marilyn Monroe, 50 times. The 25 images on the right are in black and white. Some of the images are distorted as you cannot see her face clearly. Even though viewers question the differences between the images and the Tate explains it as Marilyn’s mortality, Warhol claims there is no close relationship with the distorted images and the life Marilyn led.

Marilyn Monroe died in August 1962 as a result of an overdose. During the following four months, Warhol created this silkscreen art piece. All paintings are based on the publicity photograph of the film Niagara, 1953. Warhol was known for two consistent themes: death and celebrity cult, which were both fused in this art piece. Marilyn Monroe was ever-present in the media, which Warhol made clear by repeating her image over and over again. This art piece is in relation with the Everyday theme, since it reflects everyday celebrities, death and media.

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Museum of Modern Art. Marilyn Diptych, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/warhol-marilyn-diptych-t03093

 

 

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