Hammer and Sickle (Special Edition) FS II.169 is the fifth print in Andy Warhol’s Special Edition portfolio, created in 1977 to document and deconstruct the printing progression behind his screenprint Hammer and Sickle, FS II.164. This print represents the culmination of that process—the completed image, where layers of color, form, and line converge into a fully realized depiction of the iconic hammer and sickle.

Warhol conceived the series following a 1976 visit to Italy, where he was struck by the prevalence of communist graffiti—specifically the hammer and sickle—scrawled across urban landscapes. Rather than engaging directly with the symbol’s ideological roots, Warhol approached it as a visual artifact. He was captivated by its repetition and graphic simplicity, treating it as a cultural icon whose meaning had evolved through mass exposure and media presence.

To create a faithful reference point, Warhol asked his studio assistant Ronnie Cutrone to photograph an actual hammer and sickle, having found traditional illustrations too flat and impersonal. These photos became the basis for the entire series, which Warhol then fragmented and reassembled through successive prints. Each work in the Special Edition portfolio isolates a different stage of the image's construction, offering rare insight into Warhol’s creative and technical process.

In FS II.169, the fragmented elements from earlier prints unite in a cohesive composition. The outlines, color blocks, and shading now form the complete, recognizable objects—still stark and bold, yet rendered with Warhol’s characteristic cool detachment. The print exemplifies his skill in transforming a politically charged symbol into a work of contemporary art, devoid of dogma but rich with layered meaning.

Printed on Strathmore Bristol paper, Hammer and Sickle (Special Edition) FS II.169 is hand-signed by Warhol in pencil at the lower center and numbered from a scarce edition of just 10. As the finished product in a portfolio that meticulously dissects the screenprinting process, this piece serves not only as a compelling visual work but also as a conceptual statement about image-making, repetition, and the power of symbolism in modern culture.

For more information on Warhol’s Hammer and Sickle (Special Edition), FS II.169 or to buy Hammer and Sickle (Special Edition), FS II.169, contact our galleries using the form below.