Andy Warhol: Myths Portfolio (1981)

In Myths, Warhol captures ten iconic figures from popular culture, or American mythology. The icons, taken from modern cinema and lore, include the likes of Superman, the Wicked Witch of the West, Uncle Sam, Mickey Mouse, and Santa Claus. The Myths series exemplifies Warhol's understanding of the relationship between celebrity and consumer culture in America. To Warhol, the mythology of America was celebrity; the gods and demigods are those who can sell through their mass-produced images. The portraits represent the icon's role as celebrity, commodity, and piece of commercial art that sells. The icons are no longer individuals, but brand names and icons. The ten portraits were printed on Lenox Museum Board in 1981 by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York and published by Ronald Feldman Fine Art, Inc., New York.