Andy Warhol: Cows

The publication of Andy Warhol's Cows prints between 1966 and 1976 was to a certain extent a surprise for collectors and critics following the artist. Lacking Warhol's signature themes of celebrities and glamour, the Cow print seemed a strange departure from the artist's usual work. However, it was instantly popular and to this day these selections of prints are amongst the most recognizable artworks in the artist's œuvre.

Much like Flowers, which was released just two years earlier, the prints consisted of repeated images of a cow with differing color schemes. The four sets of color schemes were Pink Cow on Yellow Background (1966), Brown Cow with Blue Background (1971), Yellow Cow on Blue Background (1971), and finally Pink Cow on Purple Background (1976).

The inspiration for the Cow prints came from Ivan Karp, an art dealer, who suggested the subject by citing their “durable image" as an excellent way to experiment with bold, high contrast colors. The result was a humorous and strangely intriguing bovine creature, a peculiar image with perhaps slight psychedelic suggestions. It's a classic Warhol artwork, don't miss the chance to make Cows a part of your own collection.