Title: Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 343
Medium: Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board.
Year: 1985
Size: 39 3/8″ x 31 1/2″
Edition: Edition of 40, 10 AP, 5 PP, 3 HC, 30 TP with only one image of each queen, signed and numbered
Andy Warhol created Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 343 in 1985 for his “Reigning Queens” portfolio. The portfolio consists of sixteen screenprints featuring four different queens. Warhol’s portrait shows Queen Margrethe II in her own right, rather than as a woman married to and represented by a king. Warhol’s pop rendering of Queen Margrethe II is an exhibition of female empowerment. Warhol accents her femininity with bright, vivid colors and uses it to spark attention to the subject and illuminate her power. Her face is gentle while yellow, red, and orange outlines draw attention to her crown and jewelry, which are symbols of her wealth and power. The outlines and accessories stand out against the bold teal background. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is exemplary of Andy Warhol’s pop art take on classic portraiture.
