| Orange Prince | |
|---|---|
 Silkscreen portrait of musician Prince on canvas, by Andy Warhol | |
| Artist | Andy Warhol |
| Year | 1984 |
| Catalogue | Catalogued in Andy Warhol Foundation records: PA.50.541 (verso); stamped with Estate of Andy Warhol and Andy Warhol Foundation Stamps |
| Type | Painting, Printmaking |
| Medium | Synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen on canvas |
| Subject | Prince |
| Dimensions | 50.8 cm × 40.64 cm (20 in × 16 in) |
| Location | London |
| Owner | Private British collector |
Orange Prince is a painting by American artist Andy Warhol of Prince, the American singer, songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, actor, and director. The painting is one of twelve silkscreen portraits on canvas of Prince created by Warhol in 1984, based on an original photograph provided to Warhol by Vanity Fair. The photograph was taken by Lynn Goldsmith. These paintings and four additional works on paper are collectively known as the Prince Series.[1] Each painting is unique and can be distinguished by colour.
Orange Prince is considered an important late work referencing Warhol's portraits from the early 1960s, of movie stars and celebrity icons, such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and Jacqueline Kennedy. Art historian and Warhol expert Thomas E. Crow believes that Warhol's portrait of Prince shows much greater freedom of expression, as in the early portraits. This is especially evident when compared to Warhol's more 'factory-line' style of portraits from the 1970s onwards, which were mainly commissions.[2]
The Warhol portraits were not commissioned by Prince, but rather were made by Warhol for his private collection. Crow believes Warhol was fascinated by Prince, a young star not in Warhol's direct circle. He says that Warhol was drawn to Prince's edgy image, which acted as inspiration for the art work:
"(Warhol's) evident fascination with Prince, known for sexual frankness in his music and an androgynous style in his clothes, make-up, and hairstyle, echoed similar traits among those he famously gathered around himself in the Factory entourage of the 1960s."[2][3]
- ^ "Andy Warhol's 'Prince Series'". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2019-07-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
- ^ a b Thomas E. Crow (May 2018). "Expert analysis of Warhol's painting of Prince" (PDF). www.pacermonitor.com. Retrieved 2018-05-17.
- ^ Warhol, Andy (1966). "Self-Portrai". MoMALearning. The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2018-03-06.