Publication Andy Warhol: Vanitas

Andy Warhol: Vanitas explores Warhol’s preoccupation with temporality, spirituality, and astrology. Warhol, a devoted Byzantine Catholic, regularly attended church, especially after his mother's death in 1972 and following a near-fatal assassination attempt.

This book highlights a lesser known part of his oeuvre, consisting of paintings and drawings of skulls and self-portraits, reminiscent of the 17th-century Vanitas genre. Spiritual subjects such as impermanence and time are explored through multimedia art and archival material from Warhol's Time Capsules. To elaborate more on the genre of Vanitas, the publication includes several original engravings and mezzotints from Dutch engravers and painters of the 17th century from the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

With contributions from Patrick Moore, Amber Morgan, Matt Gray from the Andy Warhol Museum, Cynthia Jordens, and Fabian de Kloe from the SCHUNCK Museum, Andy Warhol: Vanitas sheds new light on this aspect of his work.