Andy Warhol created Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 335 as part of the 1985 Reigning Queens portfolio. This print is an exemplary of Andy Warhol’s pop art take on classic portraiture. Warhol’s intense pop rendering can been seen in his use of royal purple for the background with accents of Warhol’s classic color blocking technique in complementing colors. By using a bright while for her face and jewelry, Warhol accents her femininity and uses it to spark attention to the subject and illuminate her power. Her gentle facial features draw attention to her piercing blue eyes and her bright purple hair almost blends with the background, illuminating her accented crown and jewelry. Characteristic of this portfolio, Warhol’s portrait shows Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in her own right, rather than as a woman married to and represented by a king. The portfolio consists of sixteen screenprints featuring reigning monarchs from around the world. Also included in this portfolio are Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland. This portfolio is a favorite among collectors for the high profile subject matter and the female empowerment behind the portraits.
