New Andy Warhol book offers a rare look at the pop artist’s earliest works
“Andy Warhol. Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959” features carbon copies of seven books originally illustrated by the pop artist to woo clients, and also includes several other Warhol ephemera.
Here’s something for Pop Art fans to add to their Christmas wish lists. Releasing on September 16, “Andy Warhol. Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959” by Nina Schleif and Reul Golden is a special collection of some of the American artist’s earliest works before his inevitable rise to stardom. The works in question are the seven handmade books that a young Warhol had made to woo clients and strengthen his bonds with valuable contacts — five of which have never previously been republished.
“The Foundation is delighted to collaborate with TASCHEN to introduce Warhol’s whimsical books from the 1950s. These rarely seen gems provide a unique perspective on one of the world’s most fascinating artists,” says Michael Dayton Hermann, Director of Licensing of the Andy Warhol Foundation.
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- “25 Cats Name(d) Sam and One Blue Pussy” by Andy Warhol
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- “25 Cats Name(d) Sam and One Blue Pussy” by Andy Warhol
“Andy Warhol. Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959” is a colourful treasure trove of drawings and texts laced with the artist’s signature eccentricity and humor. The books feature a mix of subjects as eclectic as their creator himself; everything from cats and shoes to food and beautiful boys make an appearance on the pages.
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- “Wild Raspberries” by Andy Warhol
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- “Wild Raspberries” by Andy Warhol
The series is also a showcase of the polymath’s boundless creativity. One of the titles, “A is Alphabet”, is a lithograph portfolio that highlights each letter of the alphabet with a complementary illustration and a witty three-line verse. “Wild Raspberries” parodies as a cookbook that offers instructions and illustrations for a set of adventurous recipes, while “In the Bottom of My Garden” celebrates gay love while cleverly disguised as a children’s book.
“Andy Warhol. Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959” by Nina Schleif and Reul Golden
Each of the seven books in the new collection are practically carbon copies of their originals as well, having been meticulously replicated down to the format, dimension and paper stock. The collection also comes with several other goodies: an XL-sized, 56-page guidebook that introduces each of Warhol’s illustrations; rare photographs of the artist; inspirational ephemera and commercial assignments. It goes without saying that come 2018, “Andy Warhol. Seven Illustrated Books 1952-1959” will be a fixture on many a Warhol fan’s coffee table.
