Andy Warhol's Portraits of the 70's, Signed First Edition

Andy Warhol's Portraits of the 70's by Andy Warhol  

First Edition, First Printing, 1979 

Signed by Andy Warhol  

This is a rare signed first edition of “Andy Warhol's Portraits of the 70's” published by Random House and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in 1979.  The book was published in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name held at the Whitney Museum of American Art, November 20, 1979 -January 27, 1980 and contains 112 color plates of portraits including Liza Minelli, Golda Meir, Mick Jagger, Victor Hugo, Dennis Hopper, David Hockney, Jamie Wyeth, and Roy Lichtenstein.  Noted art historian Nancy Malloy provides the best insight into this work, “In 1979-80, the Whitney Museum of American Art mounted the exhibition, Andy Warhol: Portraits of the 70s, which showed the immense output of work done by Warhol in this genre. Portraits of well known art world and media celebrities filled the walls, earmarked by the straightforward, candid photo image, highlighted with strong color areas-often with a sense of being off-kilter-that gave added dimension to the flat, high-contrast photography. Although wanting to capture the subject candidly, without comment or judgment, through his masterful detachment and diffidence, Warhol, nevertheless, captured the spirit of the time and the fleeting nature of fame in a modern, disposable society... Warhol always strove to flatter his subjects. He sensed that this was an important aspect of his engagement with them, and further verified his fascination with the banal nature of celebrity and fame. A Warhol portrait is not only a portrait of the subject but also one of the artist himself who, through his highly individual style and masterly manipulation of the media, made a significant contribution to this genre, in which he documented the leading figures of his day.”

Measuring approximately 8.5” x 9”, the book is bound in photographically illustrated wraps boards. The book and wraps are in Near FINE+ condition with very minor surface wear to the wraps and right upper tip as well as minor spotting to the page ends.

The book has been signed and inscribed by Andy Warhol on the title page. Overall, this is a wonderful copy of a rare signed first edition Warhol title.

Photographs of the books front and back cover, signature page, as well as images contained in the book appear below. Please note that although the photographs appear digitized as thumbnails, they are viewable in the photo viewer by running your mouse over the thumbnail. You can also click on the thumbnail to open a separate window where the pictures are viewable as a slideshow.