National Galleries of Scotland

This work is one of many that Warhol referred to as his ?Golden Pictures?. In 1956 he travelled the world and the art of the Far East undoubtedly influenced his fascination with gold the following year. His travelling companion, Charles Lisanby, commented that it was particularly the gold furniture with painted black designs from Bangkok that inspired Warhol. However, there are other possible influences. Warhol was raised in the Catholic Orthodox Church, which used gold-covered icons in its worship. Also, it is likely that he was aware of the gold paintings New York artist Robert Rauschenberg produced in 1953. Warhol?s use of gold leaf to cover the entire figure, with only the detail of her facial features highlighted, creates the feeling that she is a deity awaiting worship.