Andy Warhol Martha Graham (FS.II 388) (Lamentation) is one of three screenprints from Warhol’s Martha Graham portfolio, a series celebrating the legendary dancer’s profound influence on modern dance. The print captures Martha Graham, a pioneer who redefined the art form and became the first dancer to perform at the White House. She also founded the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York, which remains a cornerstone of contemporary dance today. Reflecting on her life's work, Graham once stated, “I have spent all my life with dance and being a dancer. It’s permitting life to use you in a very intense way. Sometimes it is not pleasant. Sometimes it is fearful. But nevertheless it is inevitable” (New York Times, 1985).

In the Martha Graham portfolio, Warhol turns his focus toward capturing the power of a different art form — dance — and translates its ephemeral beauty into the permanence of a two-dimensional image. The source for these prints was a photograph by Barbara Morgan, an American photographer renowned for her portrayals of modern dancers. Warhol created this series to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in New York. Through these prints, Warhol not only honors Graham’s groundbreaking contributions but also highlights her extraordinary ability to convey deep emotion through movement and physical form. His work preserves the spirit of dance in vibrant, lasting imagery, bridging the worlds of visual and performing arts.