Marilyn (F. & S. II.29)

Marilyn (F. & S. II.29) is one of the iconic screenprints from Andy Warhol’s 1967 Marilyn Monroe portfolio, a series of ten vibrant images that cemented Warhol’s status as a leading figure in the Pop Art movement. Based on a publicity still from the 1953 film Niagara, this work presents Monroe's face in a bold, simplified form—flat areas of saturated color sharply contrasting with black outlines.
In this print, Warhol applies a vivid and sometimes jarring color palette to Monroe's features—often changing her skin tone to bright pinks, blues, or oranges—highlighting the artificiality of celebrity and beauty in mass media. The image blends glamour with repetition, referencing both Monroe's cultural ubiquity and her commodification.
By using silkscreen printing, a commercial technique, Warhol emphasized mechanical reproduction over artistic originality, echoing themes of fame, consumerism, and the ephemeral nature of icons. Monroe’s tragic life and death also add a melancholic undertone, contrasting the image’s dazzling surface.
F. & S. II.29 stands out not just for its aesthetic impact, but also for how it encapsulates Warhol’s exploration of fame, identity, and the intersection of art and commerce.