Skulls (FS II.160)

In Skulls (FS II.160), Warhol presents a human skull rendered in shades of gray, green, blue, and black, overlaid with semi-transparent blocks of color. The skull, based on a photograph taken by Warhol’s assistant Robbie Cutrone, is depicted with a hand-drawn sketchy quality, deviating from Warhol's usual photographic style. The use of flat, organic lines and blocks of color creates a dynamic interplay between realism and abstraction, inviting viewers to contemplate the subject from multiple perspectives. This screenprint is part of Warhol’s Skulls series, created in 1976, which marks a thematic shift in his work towards darker subjects, possibly influenced by his near-fatal shooting in 1968. The series reflects his exploration of mortality and the fragility of life, themes that became more prominent in his art following the traumatic event