Week 3: Paint - Marilyn Diptych, 1962, Andy Warhol, silk screen ink and acrylic paint on canvases. (qualities of paint- art history)
Marilyn Diptych was created to mark the death of American actress Marilyn Monroe. The acrylic paint combined with the silk screen ink created a smooth texture which allows the simplistic duplicated images boldness to be accentuated.
The contrast between the two canvases revolutionised the use of diptych; as the technique was used more commonly in religious altarpieces which often displayed mirrored imagery and colour. Black and white in Warhol’s piece represented the reality of Monroe’s life, whilst the luminous coloured side depicted Monroe’s stardom and seemingly “perfect” life; alluding to her supposed barbiturate overdose and lack of conscious about her mental health.
Source- https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/warhol-marilyn-diptych-t03093
