Andy Warhol Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century For Sale

Andy Warhol: Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century

Series Performance & Market Position

Andy Warhol's market authority remains unassailable. Shot Sage Blue Marilyn achieved $195,040,000 at Christie's in May 2022, establishing the benchmark for twentieth-century art at auction. Recent results confirm sustained institutional demand: Mao F.S. II.96 and II.97 each realized $4,648,000 at Christie's in May 2025, while Flowers sold for $4,076,000 and $3,832,000 at Sotheby's that same month. Against this backdrop, the Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century occupies a distinctive collecting category—historically significant, thematically cohesive, and priced for strategic acquisition.

Guy Hepner has facilitated 478 Warhol transactions totaling over $51 million across 292 collectors, providing direct insight into how this series performs within the broader Warhol print market. Our records demonstrate meaningful price appreciation: Albert Einstein F.S. II 229 achieved $101,600 at auction in October 2024, up from $88,900 just twelve months earlier—a 14% year-over-year increase. The Marx Brothers F.S. II 232 sold for $25,000 in April 2010, representing substantial growth from its £10,625 result in April 2008. These figures reflect a series that rewards patient collectors while remaining accessible relative to Warhol's celebrity portraits and Flowers editions.

Technical & Historical Context

Warhol created the Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century in 1980, the same prolific period that produced his Myths and Endangered Species portfolios. Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts in New York and Editions Schellmann in Munich, the series comprises screen prints measuring 40 x 32 inches, executed on Lenox Museum Board. Each edition consists of 200 signed and numbered impressions, plus 30 artist's proofs.

The portfolio emerged from a commission by New York art dealer Alexander Iolas and marked Warhol's explicit engagement with Jewish cultural heritage—unusual territory for an artist associated primarily with consumer imagery and celebrity iconography. Warhol selected ten figures representing intellectual achievement, artistic innovation, political leadership, and popular entertainment: Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Martin Buber, Franz Kafka, Gertrude Stein, the Marx Brothers, George Gershwin, Sarah Bernhardt, Louis Brandeis, and Golda Meir. The resulting works balance Warhol's signature flat color planes and commercial printing aesthetic with subject matter carrying genuine historical weight.

Individual Works & Collector Preferences

From our transaction history, Albert Einstein F.S. II 229 consistently generates the strongest collector interest. The subject's universal recognition translates into robust secondary market activity, as evidenced by recent auction results. Serious buyers pursue this image for both its investment trajectory and its cultural resonance within institutional and private collections alike.

George Gershwin F.S. II 231 and The Marx Brothers F.S. II 232 attract collectors drawn to Warhol's treatment of American entertainment figures—territory adjacent to his celebrated celebrity portraits but with deeper biographical substance. Sarah Bernhardt F.S. II 234 appeals to those building collections around performance and theatrical history, while Franz Kafka F.S. II 226 carries particular weight among literary collectors and European institutions.

Golda Meir F.S. II 233 and Martin Buber F.S. II 228 represent the portfolio's political and philosophical dimensions. These works often find homes with collectors for whom thematic significance outweighs name recognition. The complete portfolio of ten prints remains the most significant acquisition within this series, though complete sets surface infrequently and command substantial premiums over individual works purchased separately.

Authentication & Condition Considerations

Authentication follows established Warhol print protocols. Each impression bears Warhol's signature in pencil, typically positioned at the lower right, alongside the edition number. The portfolio was stamped by both Ronald Feldman Fine Arts and Editions Schellmann on verso, with some impressions carrying the blindstamp of publisher Rupert Jasen Smith.

Condition assessment for this series requires particular attention to the Lenox Museum Board substrate. Examine edges for handling wear and corners for soft damage. Screen prints from 1980 occasionally exhibit minor registration variations—characteristic of Warhol's production methods and generally acceptable within the market. However, significant color fading, surface abrasions, or foxing materially impact value. Works that have remained framed under UV-protective glass in climate-controlled environments present noticeably better than those with inconsistent storage histories. Guy Hepner provides comprehensive condition reports and provenance documentation for every work we offer, ensuring buyers acquire with complete transparency.

Investment Analysis & Acquisition Strategy

The Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century occupies a productive middle position within Warhol's print market. Entry points remain considerably below Marilyn, Mao, and Flowers editions, yet the series benefits from the same institutional validation and collector infrastructure supporting Warhol's broader market. The 2024 Einstein result at $101,600 signals continued appreciation without the volatility associated with trophy-level works.

For collectors building Warhol positions in 2026, this series offers strategic advantages. Individual prints provide genuine ownership at price levels permitting diversification across multiple images or artists. Complete portfolios represent scarce opportunities—full sets rarely trade, and when they do, competition among institutions and serious private collectors intensifies. Current market conditions favor buyers prepared to act decisively when quality examples surface.

Our recommendation: establish clear acquisition criteria, whether targeting specific subjects or pursuing the complete portfolio, and engage early when appropriate works become available. Hesitation costs collectors in markets this efficient.

Acquire Through Guy Hepner

Guy Hepner in New York maintains active inventory and collector relationships across the Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century series. Contact our team directly to discuss current availability, condition specifics, and acquisition timing aligned with your collection objectives.