Andy Warhol. Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962)

Andy Warhol

Fundamental Paintings to Understand the History of Painting

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Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962). Andy Warhol
Synthetic polymer paint on thirty-two canvases. Each canvas 50.8 cm x 40.6 cm
Moma. New York

This work meant for Warhol his first individual exhibition as professional artist. There are 32 canvases, each one with a soup can of different flavor.

Warhol’s themes are the everyday elements of popular consumption, coming from the mass culture reflected in the advertising industry, in the television, the movies and the comics.

The artist eliminated from his paintings every Expressionist feature —representing moods, emotions— in serial repetitions of objects until he achieved depersonalized works which paradoxically ended having a lot of content. Even the images are a result of a mechanical process of serigraphic printing.

All the pop that speaks about what is massive and depersonalization confronts the Abstract expressionism which represents the most intimate feelings of an individual. That is why those supporting Abstract expressionism considered the exhibition of this series of soup cans a real offense.

Andy Warhol provocatively said that he thought commercial art was better than art for art’s sake. Nevertheless, the history of painting acknowledges his legacy which has opened our eyes by showing us that the work of art is where we live immersed in: a consumer, frivolous and kitsch world.

Recommended links:

Andy Warhol and The Factory.

“Inspiration is television.”

Pop Art and its Themes.

“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.”

Pop Art in 5 points.

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