Andy Warhol: Polaroids XL

by Meredith Mendelsohn, Reuel Golden (Editor)

Instant Before there was Instagram, there was Warhol “A picture means I know where I was every minute. That’s why I take pictures. It’s a visual diary.” - Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was a relentless chronicler of life and its encounters. Carrying a Polaroid camera from the late 1950s until his death in 1987, he amassed a huge collection of instant pictures of friends, lovers, patrons, the famous, the obscure, the scenic, the fashionable, and himself. Created in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation , this book features hundreds of these instant photos, many of them never seen before.

Portraits of celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Alfred Hitchcock, Jack Nicholson, Yves Saint Laurent, Pelé, Debbie Harry are included alongside images of Warhol’s entourage and high life, landscapes, and still lifes from Cabbage Patch dolls to the iconic soup cans. Often raw and impromptu, the Polaroids document Warhol’s era like Instagram captures our own, offering a unique record of the life, world, and vision behind the Pop Art maestro and modernist giant. Text in English, French, and German

Genres: Art, Photography, Nonfiction, Coffee Table Books, Art and Photography, Collections, History

557 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2015

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always said I want a coffee table book to place in the house I do not own and this was always the book I visioned on my imaginary coffee table. Finally owning it (thank you Beth!) and reading it, it did not disappoint.
I love Andy Warhol. I have always been obsessed with his polaroids and I used a lot of them to create my moodboard for my undergraduate dissertation. It was exciting to be able to see my favourite photos and discover new ones in this book.
Although subtle, it is interesting to watch Warhol's progression in the art of photography (obviously the art of the polaroid camera in this book) through the years. Portrait from the late 1970s onwards have a much clearer focus than the ones from the late 50s.
It has inspired me to clean the dust off my own polaroid camera and start taking photos again.

[Brandon]

Really nice large art book featuring some of Andy Warhol's polaroid photographs and some interesting essays/historical records. Definitely not a complete collection of his work, but still something intriguing and "thought-provoking" to read about; it's cool to see such a detailed account of the pop art scene that Andy was involved in, though his eyes.

[Caravaggio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular photos!

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Even beauties can be unattractive. If you catch a beauty in the wrong light at the right time, forget it. I believe in low lights and trick mirrors."

"They always say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself."

-Andy Warhol

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know that Andy Warhol was very popular, and I grew up during his popular period. But I just don't get why. This book showcases his Polaroids during a specific time period. Most of the shots are of celebrities or otherwise famous people. They, in my opinion, are simply Polaroid pictures of famous people. I don't get what the big deal is, or what makes them better than any other picture taken of any other normal person.

Some of the pictures are very nice, like the one of Jimmy Carter or Lena Horne. But when I really looked at them I found that they were nice because of the subject, not the photograph.

I am not impressed with his work.

[Ela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun and funky coffee table book. I love how the Polaroids are displayed against black pages - it makes each one pop as its own little piece. The photos range from self-portraits, pets, and friends to nudes, celebrities, and more artistic shots. They also give a glimpse into who was hanging around Warhol’s scene at the time: David Bowie, Salvador Dalí, Liza Minelli, Alice Cooper, and so many more. The blurbs and timelines were clearly written and helped me get a better sense of Warhol’s life.

[Seven Pesos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool. I liked it. Polaroids taken by Andy Warhol between 1958 - 1987. Plenty of interesting characters, subjects, etc. My favorite photo was of Jimmy Carter, he looks very virile + commanding + charismatic in his portrait. That is my president (basing this off of his sheer aura).

[Matt Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this retrospective of Andy's Polaroids!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

After all these years I'm still obsessed with Andy Warhol. This is a collection of Polaroid pictures that Andy Warhol took over his lifetime.

[Jordy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the coolest photobooks I’ve ever read

[c_r_i_ss_y · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was gifted to me by a friend a few years ago and I still love it so much. the huge & high quality photos make the book perfect to flip through with friends. the variety of photos also make it interesting to look through and talk about. definitely one of my favorite coffee table books!