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Title: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 334
Medium: Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board.
Year: 1985
Size: 39 3/8″ x 31 1/2″
Edition: Edition of 40, signed and numbered in pencil.
Andy Warhol created Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 334 as part of the 1985 Reigning Queens portfolio. Warhol’s portrait shows Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in her own right, rather than as a woman married to and represented by a king. Warhol’s intense pop rendering of Queen Elizabeth is an exhibition of female empowerment. This print is characterized by the use of a bright red background with with accents of Warhol’s classic color blocking technique in pink, green and blue. Her gentle facial features draw attention to the hand drawn outline of her piercing eyes and her red hair almost blends with the background, illuminating her accented crown and jewelry. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is exemplary of Andy Warhol’s pop art take on classic portraiture. The portfolio consists of sixteen screenprints featuring reigning female monarchs from around the world. Warhol collectors enjoy this series because of the empowering message of strong female rulers as well as the recognizable subject matter.
