31st Mar, 2026 10:00
Modern and Contemporary Art
202
Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987)
Chicken 'N Dumplings from 'Campbell's Soup II', 1969 (F & S 58)
screenprint in colours on wove, signed 'Andy Warhol' in black ball-point pen and stamp numbered 232/250 verso, published by Factory Additions, New York
sheet 89 x 58.5cm; framed 91 x 60cm
Provenance:The collection of Michael Rand;
thence by descent.
Fascinated by consumer culture and mass advertising, Andy Warhol first turned to the subject of the Campbell’s Soup can in 1962. Exhibiting images of the original 32 Campbell’s Soup flavours on hand-painted canvases at the Ferus Gallery, Los Angeles, later that year, Warhol displayed the works in rows, as if on a grocery shelf. Drawing on his background as a commercial illustrator, Warhol meticulously reproduced the iconic Campbell’s Soup label, which had been unchanged for 50 years, varying only the variety of the soup on each canvas. The uniformity of the images mimicked the repetition of advertising print mediums, while the process of hand-painting each work on canvas and displaying them within a gallery setting, elevated the works to high art status. The focus on commercial imagery initially inspired great criticism, however, the canvases would quickly become amongst the most iconic images of the Pop Art movement, inspiring countless debates surrounding the divide between high art and popular culture. The 32 canvases were made available to the public by the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, two days before Warhol’s death and were later acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
While Warhol's initial series was hand-painted, in 1962 he began to explore the screen-printing process. This was a printmaking process originally designed for commercial use, and therefore a natural partner for Warhol’s images that were drawn from consumer culture and advertising. He also felt that art should be widely available and accessible, which aligned with producing printed works: 'I don’t think art should be only for the select few,' he claimed, 'I think it should be for the mass of the American people'. He would produce two printed series of the Soup Cans, the present work being from the second of the series which was printed in 1969.
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Browse 'The Michael Rand Collection', featured in our 31 March 'Modern & Contemporary Art' auction.
£15,000 - £20,000
Buyer's premium: 30.00% (inclusive of VAT, where applicable)
Condition Report
Time staining to paper with some light marks and smudges to margins. A thin, faint border of discolouration to edge of sheet as a result of framing. Red and orange ink is somewhat faded. Red ink is patchy and uneven at the top half of the print with some light surface scratches and indents. Further light surface scratches and several small creases to the silver ink at the top of the can. A few light scratches to the words 'CHICKEN 'N DUMPLINGS' and the silver base of the can. Some small dirty marks around the word 'SOUP'. A further small mark next to the base of the can in the lower left corner. A few small nicks to extreme left edge of sheet. Numerous small handling creases and some dirty marks to reverse of the sheet.
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Auction: Modern and Contemporary Art, 31st Mar, 2026
Viewing
Stansted Viewing | Auction
Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:
Friday 27 March, 10am - 4pm
Sunday 29 March, 10am - 1pm
Monday 30 March, 10am - 4pm
All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description.
The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.
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