Black Lenin - Andy Warhol
Archival giclée
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Description
A striking screenprint by Andy Warhol, featuring the iconic portrait of Vladimir Lenin rendered in bold red against a deep black background.
Andy Warhol produced his series of Lenin portraits in 1987, shortly before his death. This specific iteration, often referred to as Black Lenin, demonstrates the artist's interest in the commodification of political iconography. Warhol utilised a photograph of Vladimir Lenin as his source material, subjecting the image to his signature screenprinting process. By isolating the figure against a dark, void-like background and applying bold, non-naturalistic colour to the face, Warhol strips the subject of his historical context, transforming a revolutionary leader into a graphic symbol.
The composition is stark and frontal. The face of Lenin is rendered in a flat, saturated red, which contrasts sharply with the deep black of his suit and the surrounding space. A small, white collar provides a geometric anchor, while the hand resting on a surface at the bottom of the frame adds a sense of physical presence to the otherwise flattened image. The screenprinting technique creates a slight graininess, a hallmark of Warhol's aesthetic, which bridges the gap between commercial printing and fine art.
Warhol's approach to political figures often involved a detachment that invited viewers to consider the image as a product of mass media rather than a historical record. By repeating the image in various colour combinations, he explored how visual repetition alters the perception of a subject. In this instance, the choice of a black and red palette evokes the starkness of propaganda posters while simultaneously subverting their original intent. The work remains a significant example of how Warhol applied his commercial sensibilities to the most serious of subjects, effectively turning political history into a graphic icon for the late twentieth century.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Black Lenin - Andy Warhol
Artist Biography
Andy Warhol
He moved to New York after graduating from Carnegie Tech in 1949 and spent the 1950s as a commercial illustrator. He was successful at it: shoe drawings for I. Miller, album covers, magazine illustrations. The work was loose, charming, and camp. He won awards. But commercial art was not taken seriously, and Warhol wanted to be taken seriously.
The Campbell's Soup Cans came in 1962. Thirty-two canvases, one for each flavour. Then Marilyn, then Elvis, then the car crashes and electric chairs. The technique was silk-screen printing: photographic images transferred to canvas through a mesh screen and printed in flat, commercial colours. The process removed the artist's hand almost entirely, which was the point. Warhol made art that looked like it had been manufactured, in a culture that manufactured everything.
The Factory, his silver-foiled studio on East 47th Street, became the centre of a scene that included musicians, actors, drag queens, socialites, and addicts, sometimes all at once. He made films. He started Interview magazine. He managed the Velvet Underground. He was shot by Valerie Solanas in 1968 and nearly died; he wore a surgical corset for the rest of his life.
His late work, often dismissed, includes the Oxidation Paintings (made with urine on metallic paint), the Shadow series, and the Last Supper paintings. He died in 1987 after gallbladder surgery, at fifty-eight. His estate was valued at around 600 million dollars.
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