Warhol’s Feminine Icons: Exploring Ambiguity Through Paloma Picasso

As an icon of American Pop Art, Andy Warhol left a lasting impact on the art world, an example of which includes his boundary-shifting exploration of the female subject. Rendered in lively colors and boldly directing their gaze at the viewer, the feminine icons in Warhol’s works represent an ambiguous universe in which the artist’s fascination with celebrity culture meets with his skepticism toward consumer society. We take a look at the iconic 1975 print Paloma Picasso, released in an edition of 90, and available in our marketplace. 

Throughout his career, Warhol made a number of influential female figures the subject of his prints and paintings. From Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy to Elizabeth Taylor, the women depicted in his artworks speak to the many facets of celebrity culture, consumerism, and popular media. 

Paloma Picasso presents the iconic French fashion designer’s face in a way that celebrates simplicity, precise contours and vivid details. Paloma Picasso’s face constitutes the central part of the composition, with her left eye covered with three rectangular shapes, the only elements of color in the artwork. While the visible facial features of the designer are consistently detailed throughout the print, the left side of the female face merges with the background, turning the image into a playful, collage-like constellation. 

In his representation of Pablo Picasso and Françoise Gilot’s daughter, Warhol embraces ambiguity of vision through intentionally minimalist means. The woman’s face is recognisable as Paloma Picasso’s while also invoking something impersonal through its black and white tones playing on the culture of mass-produced magazine images of women. 

The artwork emerged in 1973 in the context of commemoration of Pablo Picasso’s death. Initiated by Austrian art critic Wieland Schmied, a series of five albums was created, featuring a diverse range of works, including lithographs, silkscreens, etchings, and aquatints on paper. These pieces were thematically connected to various aspects of the life and work of the Spanish artist. Consequently, Paloma Picasso embodies a rich artistic tradition that spans both American and European creators, including, but not limited to Wifredo Lam, Robert Indiana, Walter de Maria, Louise Nevelson, and Peter Palermo.

The consistent record-breaking performances of Warhol's artworks, notably the 2017 sale of Marilyn at Christie's and the sale of Shot Sage Blue Marilyn in May 2022, where it reached $195 million, suggest a robust and appreciating market for Warhol’s pieces. The sustained demand and escalating values emphasise the enduring appeal of Warhol's work. Resonating with cultural questions of our times, Paloma Picasso would make a great contribution to any collection. Explore this work and others of Andy Warhol's on the marketplace.