The work “Ladies & Gentlemen” by Andy Warhol represents one of the most significant chapters of the artist’s production during the 1970s. Created in 1975, the series emerged from Warhol’s desire to explore the theme of identity through the faces of New York drag queens and transgender individuals. Employing his iconic silkscreen technique, the artist both celebrated and questioned a society increasingly shaped by image and representation.
In this version, the figure emerges with striking intensity through vivid, contrasting colours layered in flat yet dynamic fields. The interplay of light and shadow further heightens the psychological tension of the portrait, transforming a real individual into a universal icon. As throughout much of his work, Warhol blends glamour with introspection, making the fleeting appear unexpectedly timeless.
Despite its apparent detachment, the work conveys a profound sense of empathy, capturing both the fragility and the strength of the human condition. For this reason, “Ladies & Gentlemen” is more than a portrait: it is a visual manifesto of diversity, courage, and freedom, embodying themes that were central to Andy Warhol’s artistic vision.
Description: Colour silkscreen on paper, bearing on the reverse, lower left, a pencil inscription with edition number, signature, and date: “54/125 Andy Warhol 75 and AWE”, H cm 109.5×72 – with frame H cm 117×80.
Publications: Published in “Andy Warhol Prints: A Catalogue Raisonné 1962-1987”, Feldman/Schellmann, Fourth Edition revised and expanded by Frayda Feldman and Claudia Defendi, D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers, Vol. II, p. 90.
Hammer Price: € 9.375,00
Auction 79 – February 10th 2025 – Modern and Contemporary Art
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