Art is the Solution

Self-Portrait with Skull Source: National Galleries Scotland There are few twentieth century artists more famous than Andy Warhol. Warhol is famous for his iconic pop art, including Campbell's Soup Cans and The Marilyn Diptych , which features movie star Marilyn Monroe. However, some of his darker pieces are relatively unknown. Self-Portrait with Skull is one of Warhol’s most poignant and unsettling pieces. As the title suggests, the painting depicts the artist with a skull balanced on his shoulder. A red and black background gives the painting a sinister, violent aura. Warhol stares directly at the viewer with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, an unsettling but also vulnerable expression. The piece was created using one of a series of photos of Warhol posing with a model of a skull. The image was then screen printed and painted. Self-Portrait with Skull reflects Warhol’s fascination with death, a trait that many artists share. Warhol also had a near brush with death in 1968 ...