Warhol

by David Bourdon

Perhaps no artist has so captured the imagination of the public as has Andy Warhol. To some he was a genius whose brash, provocative, and often zany paintings and films epitomized the prevailing cultural and moral spirit of the time; others saw him as a flagrant self-promoter whose insatiable appetite for fame and fortune led him to pure sensationalism at the expense of serious art. Yet no one can deny his influence on the world at large, an influence that continues unabated even after his death. By preempting the celebrity of his subjects-from Campbell's Soup and Coca-Cola to Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor-Warhol parlayed his own name into a highly valuable commodity. But he didn't stop there. Recognized as a founding father of underground film, a pioneer of multimedia "happenings," and the brightest light in his own galaxy of "superstars," Warhol strove to be a "jack of all arts," and the legacy he left behind-paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, films, anai"publications, as well as a decorative art collection perhaps unrivaled in ourtime-proves him to be a master as well. Author David Bourdon, art critic and a close friend and confidant of Warhol's since the early 1960s, has been working on this book for several years, receiving full cooperation from the artist during his lifetime and from his family and friends afterward. He has succeeded in capturing Warhol's art, life, and impact-and the essence of an era- with style, grace, insight, and the authenticity that only comes from having been there. In portraying the multidimensional artist in all his many guises, Bourdon presents the most comprehensive, authoritative view available of the life and work of the internationally renowned king of Pop art. With his perceptive text and more than 320 pictures, he explores the young Warhol's struggle to find his own niche in the art world-and his personal rivalry with Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns in his attempts to innovate new forms in art; analyzes his films-from early, motionless studies such as Empire through Chelsea Girls, which one critic termed "the Iliad of the Underground," and Lonesome Cowboys and Blue Movie, both confiscated by lawmen; documents the evolution of his Interview magazine; discusses the shock waves that spread around the world from his 1968 near-fatal shooting; and examines his role as cult figure and mentor. The off-center members of Warhol's eccentric entourage -Girls of the Year Baby Jane Hölzer and Edie Sedgwick; Factory regulars Ondine, Viva, Ultra Violet, and Billy Name; transvestite film stars Candy Darling, Holly Woodlàwn, and Jackie Curtis-are all here, as are such notables from the worlds of music, fashion, and Hollywood as Liza, John and Yoko, Mick, Bianca, Capote, and Jackie Q They all come together in the pages of this critical biography, fhedefinitive study of one of the most closely scrutinized but least understood artists of the century.

Genres: Art, Biography, History, Art and Photography

Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

David Bourdon was born October 15, 1934, and earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1961. He immediately entered into a career as a journalist and art critic writing through his career for periodicals such as Artforum International Magazine, Art in America Magazine, Arts Magazine, and Time Magazine, among others. In particular he worked as an assistant editor at Life Magazine, 1966-1971, an associate editor at Saturday Review, 1972, and Smithsonian, 1972-1974, a senior editor at Geo, 1981-1983, and a senior features editor at Vogue Magazine, 1983-1986. Additionally, he served as art critic for the Village Voice, 1964-1966 and 1974-1977. Bourdon wrote numerous books on modern artists including works on Alexander Calder, Niki de Saint Phalle, Carl Andre, Christo & Jeanne-Claude, and Andy Warhol. David Bourdon died in New York on March 27, 1998.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating account of Warhol's amazing output: the paintings (Campbell's Soup Cans, Monroe, Elvis and many other famous people), the sculptures (Brillo Boxes), the album covers (the Stone's Sticky Fingers), the films (Sleep, Eat, Blowjob) as well as his own magazine publication (Interview) and his own books. This was a busy man! And although not a single picture in this volume feels superfluous, there is what seems to be an excess of "filler" material. For example, there is an extended discussion of Warhol's multi-hour film "Sleep", in which a man sleeps. It's surprising the author finds enough material to fill a couple of pages of his discussion of said film in which we will see or have indeed seen : a torso, a face, unidentifiable body parts, buttocks, sheets carefully folded to cover genitals, etc.) And at one point, Bourdon hints to us this tidbit: while discussing the film "Blow Job" the author recounts that Warhol may have seen the actor/receiver in a Clint Eastwood movie, thus leading this reader to question much of what the author has to say. Is he simply being gossipy? Or is the author, again, desperate for filler material? In summary, this book does offer the amazing breadth of Warhol's talent. And it's a story that covers Warhol's life, birth to a way-to-early death. But some of the writing is, well, too much writing. There is an art, certainly, to the very best gossip. And as they say, any publicity is good publicity. So I'm taking just one star away from what approaches a masterpiece because of the filler material. This is a must for Warhol fans, if only to flip the pages and see the world through Warhol's lens.

[Jacob Ehret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book Warhol, by David Bourdon. I enjoyed it a lot because I am an artist myself, and it gave me exactly what I was looking for. Warhol is about the life of iconic pop artist, Andy Warhol. The author digs deep about his early years, struggling to be an aspiring artist. He then encounters people and opportunities in his life that result in early success to later develop his official career. Andy Warhol begins as an illustrator, but silent to the people of New York City. His work has no way of sale, and so he begins. He explores the realms of art in all forms, to finally reach the recognition and exposure an artist deserves. His success came later in his life, but now Andy Warhol is one of the most famous artists of American culture and the foundation of all pop art. His legacy carries on.

[Alexis Marie Chute · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent full-scope exploration into the life of the King of Pop Art. The book is large and weighty, but worth the muscle to pour over every image and devour every paragraph.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Andy Warhol fan and this book was really informative. There were so many things inhere that I didn't know and I thought I knew just about everything there was to know about Andy Warhol. There are a lot of pictures of his work as well as information about each piece including the process and some inspiration.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-illustrated retrospective of Warhol.