Color screenprint on Beckett High White paper, 1972. 914x914 mm; 36x36 inches, full margins. Signed in ball-point pen and ink and numbered 59/250 with a rubber stamp, verso. Printed by Styria Studio, Inc., New York. Published by Castelli Graphics, New York, and Multiples, Inc., New York. From the same-titled suite. A superb impression with strong colors.
Warhol (1928-1987) created the 10 different color screenprint portraits of Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong (1893-1976) following Richard Nixon's historic visit in China in 1972. He addressed the cult of personality surrounding China's renowned Premier using his signature portrait style previously reserved for mass-produced consumer products and Hollywood film stars. Famously blending the propaganda utilized to render modern totalitarian rulers and the liveliness of American, western media, these garishly colored, graffiti-like portraits of Mao helped propel Warhol toward international Pop icon status. Feldman 90.
