Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) - $ (9)

1982, pencil signed and numbered AP 9/10 (aside from the edition of 35, from the portfolio of two prints assembled in mixed variations, each print is unique), the full sheet, Rupert Jasen Smith, New York, printer. Color screenprint on Lenox Museum Board.
sheet: 40 x 32 in. (101.6 x 81.3cm)
[Feldman & Schellmann, II.285-286]

ProvenanceMartin Lawrence Galleries, Newport Beach, California.Private Collection, Beverly Hills, California (acquired directly from the above in 2008).
Lot Essay

In the early 1980s, amidst a booming American economy fueled by deregulation and materialism, Warhol unveiled his now-iconic Dollar Signs series. These vibrant silkscreens weren't merely depictions of currency; they were a potent commentary on the social and cultural zeitgeist of a flush and freewheeling decade.

The era witnessed a growing obsession with wealth. The so-called "Me Generation" prioritized personal gain, and conspicuous consumption became a cultural norm. Warhol, ever the chronicler of popular culture, captured this fascination with the dollar sign, a universally recognized symbol of financial power. By isolating and magnifying it - and in the present example, multiplying it - he transformed a mundane symbol into a Pop icon.

Warhol's signature repetition amplified his message. Multiple dollar signs plastered across canvas or, here, reproduced in silkscreen, created a sense of abundance, even excess. Their expressive colors–often contrasting starkly with the background - grabbed attention, mirroring the flashy extravagance of the 80s. And by elevating the dollar sign to the status of art object, Warhol blurred the lines between cultural and financial value.

Yet, Warhol’s series wasn't just about American materialism; it reflected a global shift. The rise of Japanese economic dominance and the oil boom in the Middle East cemented the dollar's significance as the world's reserve currency. His iconic series, then, transcended national boundaries, becoming a powerful and persistent symbol of the growing power of money. Works like the present lot captured the allure and critique of wealth in Reagan-era America and farther afield, offering a lasting commentary on the ever-present influence of money in our lives.