Original one-off 'Cow' screen print by Warhol on an unfolded cereal box for Kellogg's 40% Bran Flakes, 13 x 19.5, signed and inscribed on the reverse in black felt tip, "To Yelitza, Andy Warhol." Also bears an "Andy Warhol" stamp near the bottom of the reverse. Box is marked with a "Better If Used Before" date of January 23, 1979. In fine condition, with expected wear to the edges. The recipient of this piece was Yelitza Karolyi, who was a New York City model in the 1970s and 80s. She befriended artists such as Warhol and photographers such as Peter Beard, and today is a fine artist herself.
The inspiration for Warhol's 'Cow Series' came from art dealer Ivan Karp, who once ironically suggested to him: 'Why don’t you paint some cows, they’re so wonderfully pastoral and such a durable image in the history of the arts.' In 1966, Warhol denounced painting as 'dead' and committed himself to printmaking as an art form. His printer, Gerard Malanga, chose this particular image to use. The 'Cow Series,' which Warhol published between 1966 and 1976, featured four variations: 'Pink Cow on Yellow Background,' 'Brown Cow on Blue Background,' 'Yellow Cow on Blue Background,' and 'Pink Cow on Purple Background.'
This unique piece—which could be called 'Black Cow on Cereal Box'—combines the iconic cow image with Warhol's interest in mass-produced consumer product packaging, made most famous by his Campbell's Soup works. Warhol had also previously experimented with Kellogg's boxes, creating a series of Corn Flakes boxes for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1971. An interesting and unique hand-signed piece by the innovative Pop artist.
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