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Marilyn Monroe

National Portrait Gallery

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    • Print

Object Details

Artist
Andy Warhol, 6 Aug 1928 - 22 Feb 1987
Printer
Aetna Silkscreen Products, Inc.
Publisher
Factory Additions
Sitter
Marilyn Monroe, 1 Jun 1926 - 5 Aug 1962
Exhibition Label
Born Los Angeles, California
Based on a publicity still from Marilyn Monroe’s 1953 film Niagara, Andy Warhol’s portrait of the film star conveys both her glamour and her fragility. A gifted performer, Monroe became an iconic sex symbol, entertaining troops in Korea and electrifying movie audiences. Despite her success, she maintained an air of vulnerability. Warhol capitalized on these contradictions by portraying Monroe after her 1962 death from a drug overdose. Using silkscreens, he created multiple renditions of the portrait. By emphasizing the images’ off-register printing, Warhol created a powerful metaphor for the dissolution of Monroe’s career and the disastrous impact of her overexposure. In this screenprint, one of a series of ten, Monroe’s sensual features dissolve into a nearly impenetrable mask as Warhol’s non-naturalistic colors and their improper alignment add a jarring, alienating effect to the familiar face.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Daniel Solomon
1967
Object number
NPG.97.51
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© Estate of Marilyn Monroe, c/o CMG Worldwide, Inc. ©Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / ARS, New York
Type
Print
Medium
Screenprint on paper
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 91.5 x 91.5 cm (36 x 36")
Place
United States\New York\Kings\New York
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Jewelry\Earring
Marilyn Monroe: Female
Marilyn Monroe: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor\Movie
Marilyn Monroe: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Popular
Portrait
Record ID
npg_NPG.97.51
Usage of Metadata (Object Detail Text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4a35cfc8f-4a6a-41d5-8afa-03cbd250fcca

Related Content

  • 1967: A Year in the Collections

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