Magazine and History (F & S II.304A) is a screenprint created by Andy Warhol in 1983 and published in Germany. Commissioned for the new offices of the German magazine Bunte in Munich, the print was produced alongside a large-scale painting. The composition features twenty-five Bunte magazine covers, arranged with deliberate irregularity, each bearing images of high-profile figures including celebrities, royals, and political leaders. At the center of the print is the face of John F. Kennedy, a figure Warhol had explored in his previous work, particularly in relation to his assassination—a moment Warhol viewed as emblematic of the media’s power and obsession with fame, tragedy, and image.

This print stands out as a visual dialogue between Warhol’s own artistic concerns and the glossy, image-driven world of Bunte. Known for his pioneering use of photographic imagery and media manipulation, Warhol found in Bunte a kindred spirit—both artists and publications thriving on the replication and commodification of public personas. His longstanding fascination with news photography and mass communication is fully present here, as he transforms ephemeral magazine covers into enduring works of art.

Magazine and History (F & S II.304A) probes the blurred boundary between documentary photography and artistic expression. Warhol constantly challenged the distinction between high and low culture, questioning why certain images were revered in museums while others were tossed aside on newsstands. This tension is evident in his treatment of everyday commercial objects like Campbell’s soup cans and Brillo boxes, and it extends naturally to the world of magazines—especially those, like Bunte, that straddle journalism and sensationalism. The magazine’s tagline, Leidenschaft für Menschen (“A Passion for People”), encapsulates its voyeuristic yet celebratory tone, a tone not dissimilar from Warhol’s own approach to celebrity and iconography.

Warhol’s connection to Bunte also underscores his deeper commentary on fame and the spectacle of modern media. The magazine was frequently entangled in legal disputes over its often-intrusive stories, mirroring the volatile relationship between public figures and the press—something Warhol understood intimately. His art, like Bunte, reveled in the public's fascination with personality, scandal, and surface, making this print a fitting exploration of their shared ethos.

Magazine and History (F & S II.304A) belongs to a broader series of Warhol works that engage with printed ephemera—magazine covers, tickets, packaging—objects not typically seen as art but reimagined through Warhol’s eye for repetition and aesthetic potential. Other works in this vein include Paris Review, Purple Cows, Lincoln Center Ticket, and SAS Passenger, all produced in quick succession during the 1980s. Through these works, Warhol reaffirmed his belief that beauty and cultural significance can be found in the most ordinary and overlooked materials.

For more information on Warhol’s Magazine and History (F & S II.304A) or to buy Magazine and History (F & S II.304A), contact our galleries using the form below.