Chicken Soup

Andy Warhol’s Clever Canning of the Human Condition

(Andy Warhol's Small Torn Campbell's Soup Can (Pepper Pot), 1962 sells at $11.8 million at yesterday's Christie's auction house.)

Behind every modern artist is a (once) dedicated illustrator. In fact, Warhol started out making advertisements for I. Miller shoes and Christmas cards for Tiffany’s and Co. before he became famous with his commercial-laden Campbell’s soup cans.

His Small Torn Campbell’s Soup Can (Pepper Pot) is perhaps one of his most painterly renditions of that infamous can. Unlike his regimented, streamlined and silk screened representations from photographs of famous stars and other figures, his Small Torn Campbell's Soup Can has a personal, and delicate touch. He used pencil and paintbrush in this case.

Ironically, although for Warhol it must have been a deliberate irony, his iconic illustrations became paramount advertisements for himself, making him rich and famous.

And even more ironic, the fame generated from his series of Cans has led to their freedom from the shelf.

Campbell’s soup cans imagery are now all over the place, from billboards to get well wishes. Perhaps Warhol tapped onto something. But wasn’t that ‘something’ there before he even got at it?

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