Complete Set of 6 Dollar sign screen prints (1928-1987)

Provenance
Bruce R. Lewin Gallery, New York
Private Collection, Australia

Literature
J. Schellmann & F. Feldman, Andy Warhol Prints: A Catalogue Raisonné 1962-1987, New York, 1997, no.II.274-279 (illustrated p.122).

The Dollar Sign is one of Andy Warhol’s most recognizable and powerful images. A simple form repeated in multiple vibrant colours for maximum impact. A universal symbol of wealth and aspiration, expressing the ubiquitous desire to accumulate and spend money.

Warhol created a series of screenprints in unique colour variations which were assembled in sets of six, each in a unique combination, so no two sets have the same selection of colours. Unlike many of his screenprint images, Warhol did not use an existing image for the dollar sign, but created his own design, inspired by images in commercial typography, an industry in which he had honed his draughtsmanship skills on his arrival in New York.

Just as he elevated everyday items, such as the humble soup can, into artworks to be contemplated from an artistic viewpoint, so he depicts the dollar sign as an object of beauty and veneration. Warhol’s fascination with the pursuit of wealth was in line with the zeitgeist of the times and these works were produced as the art market was experiencing one of its most successful decades – consumerism was king and art was regarded very much as a commodity.

The Dollar Sign screenprints are the ultimate representation of wealth and consumption. Warhol transformed this financial symbol into an artistic image, blurring the lines between art and commerce and challenging the viewer’s perception of what constitutes an artwork. They remain as popular today as when they were first produced and are inextricably linked to the artist himself.