Andy Warhol Beethoven: An Ode To The Great: 10th February 2025

There  is a certain musicality to Warhol's art that few artists before or since have ever truly captured. Warhol held a deep respect for music and performing arts and, on his arrival to New York in the 1960s, would often take in the Judson Dance Theater as well as the New York City Ballet performances. The movement within music and dance can be found across Warhol's works and, in particular his most famous portrait of arguably the world's greatest composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Warhol's interpretation of Beethoven in his art is a testament to his penchant for celebrating cultural legends through his distinct artistic style.

Warhol's Beethoven series, created in the 1987, primarily comprises portraits of the renowned composer. These portraits were executed using Warhol's iconic silkscreen printing technique, which he mastered and popularized during his career.

Warhol's Trial Proof prints are unique screen prints that were created during the printing of an edition and are highly prized for their rarity (each unique in their colorway) and connection to Warhol's astrounding creative process. Trial Proofs are created by making changes to the color or composition of an edition with each trial proof being unique in its format. Often marked with TP, Warhol extensively used TPs throughout the latter half of his career to experiment with form, composition and especially color.

Warhol's Beethoven series features 72 TPs of various color and quality. TP 10/71, available now at Guy Hepner, is considered to be ones of the most popular Beethoven TPs due to the soft, inviting cream colored face of the artist (compared to other examples from the series which include bright greens, reds and pinks) and the complimentary wider color scheme. 

TP 10/72 is like witnessing the stage curtain being pulled up as we are introduced directly and immediately to Warhol's remarkable creative process. Highlights of neon pink contrast and flow through icy, cool blue chill of the composer's hair, as warming rich, ruby red notes flow effortlessly across the page (the musical score itself is that of Moonlight Sonata). The comforting orange of Beethoven's cravat captures the comforting feeling of crushed velvet and brings a sense of texture as we are welcomed to not only the creative process of Warhol but that of Beethoven too as we imagine the notes that sweep across the print are are direct window into Beethoven's own creativity and majesty.