Warhol by Ratcliff

Segmented chronologically, Ratcliff explains the influence and significance of select paintings, as well as sections devoted to Warhol’s sketches, photographs, movies and notes on the techniques used by the artist. This format, combined with the inclusion of nearly 100 prints of paintings, is effective because a natural theme flows through the chronological ordering of the monograph. Some of the influences are obvious in Warhol’s work. However, the cumulative effect of the artist’s attempts is more easily understood through the chronological ordering of the pieces. The chronological ordering helps the reader understand what social or personal beliefs or conflicts the artist was dealing with pertaining to the given time period. For example, Warhol produced many pieces with singular subject matter displayed multiple times as in his Cam

. . .
”[8] This near death experience must have been Warhol’s ultimate feeling of emptiness. Ratcliff captures the essence of Warhol and his paintings, sketches, photography, and movies. [5]

Ratcliff’s Andy Warhol fills the gap left by other writers. The development of Warhol as an artist is easily understood using this format, as his work transforms from the playful character of Saturday’s Popeye

(Figure 1) to the realism of Skull or the political power of the Hammer and Sickle series. This deficiency may be due to the fact that Andy’s film works were just in the beginning stages at the time of the texts printing. Ratcliff not only describes the work itself, but also tells of the concept behind the art. Ratcliff, when compared to other writers who investigated Warhol, has an edge on the competition. Cantz’ The Last Supper is at best a glorified picture show of the artist’s work. pbell’s soup cans, Coca-Cola bottles and dollar signs, possibly just comforting symbols to Warhol as well as the American Pop Culture. The idea that Warhol only looked at his paintings for their face value is evident in such works as the do-it-yourself images (Figure 4) and Campbell’s soup cans, which appear to be commercial works of art, however they were part of Andy’s private collection. To fully understand a work of art it is helpful to have some background information about the work and the artist. Warhol’s Death and Disaster series brought about muddled reviews from the public. On the third of June in 1968, Warhol was shot several times by Valerie Solinas, founder and sole member of S. [4] Unseen Warhol is an in depth biography of Andy Warhol, not much attention is granted to the actual pieces of art.

Common topics in this essay:
Andy Warhol, Warhol’s Segmented, Death Disaster, Shifting Pop, Cutting Warhol, Golden Slippers, Andy Warhol’s, Culture Ratcliff, Pillows Figure, Post Pop, andy warhol, pop art, american pop, campbell’s soup, pop era, death disaster series, period warhol, pop culture, art ratcliff, information artist, ratcliff’s book, warhol’s andy warhol, american pop art, campbell’s soup cans, post pop era,

Approximate Word count = 1413
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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