Reigning Queens: Queen Elizabeth II F.S. II 337 (Blue), 1985

This captivating portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II was created by Andy Warhol in 1985, as part of his ‘Reigning Queens’ series of screen prints. These works, dedicated the theme of royalty and female power, explore the intersection of glamour, fame and social hierarchy.

Warhol’s portrait of the Queen is derived from an official photograph published in 1977 in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee. Reproducing the same image with variations in the colour scheme and line tracing, the artist produced a total of 16 portraits, edited in numerous editions. For these royal portraits, Warhol chose bold shades of pink, green, plum and turquoise, while the backgrounds include purple, blue and red.

An artist fascinated by fame and beauty, Warhol was attracted by the Queen’s international standing and her unparalleled status as one of the most reproduced figures in contemporary times. In this striking artwork, the royal bust is juxtaposed with a deep blue background, evoking the iconic colours of the British flag.  The multicoloured elements of this portrait, including details of the Queen’s outfit, hairstyle and lipstick-covered mouth, enhance her glamour and femininity. Her tiara, sash and unapologetically direct stare, however, qualify her as a subject infused with tangible political authority.

One of these portraits, produced in a limited edition of 40 copies, was included in the exhibition ‘The Queen: Portraits of a Monarch’ held at Windsor Castle in 2012. Despite being the only portrait shown that the Queen never commissioned or posed for, it was subsequently acquired for the Royal Collection. This artwork represents today one of the best examples of Warhol’s practice, which revolutionised the contemporary art world with bold subjects and an innovative approach to mechanical reproduction.

Warhol’s images, simplified and overlayed with various shapes and blocks of colours, maintain a deliberately artistic aesthetic. His portrait of Queen Elizabeth, produced at the end of his career, perfectly encapsulates his fascination with celebrity status, global icons and political authority, in an image full of life and animation.