Six Handbags
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? The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / DACS, London 2009

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Six Handbags 1958
  • Artist Rooms
After arriving in New York in 1949, Warhol quickly became established as one of the most sought-after commercial illustrators, working for magazines such as Glamour and Harper?s Bazaar. His fashion illustrations and adverts are quirky and playful, utilising his blotted-line technique and vivid colours. With this work, however, Warhol has not used vibrant colours but has instead concentrated on capturing the different textures of the six handbags - such as fur in the foreground and a beaded one at the rear. The elaborate frame and outlines of the handbags were created using his blotted-line technique.

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Blotted-Line Technique

Andy Warhol first experimented with this form of print-making whilst a student and it would later characterise his commercial work of the 1950s. With two sheets of paper hinged together, a pencil drawing is made on one sheet which is subsequently traced over with ink. Whilst the ink is still wet the sheets of paper are pressed together, thus transferring the line. The result is a broken, yet apparently intuitive, line drawing.

Blotted-Line Technique

Details

  • Acc. No. AR00270
  • Medium Pen and ink and tempera on paper
  • Size 34.00 x 33.00 cm
  • Credit ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008

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