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Artworks
Andy Warhol
Kachina Dolls (F & S II.381), 1986
Screenprint on Lenox Museum Board.
91.4 x 91.4 cm.
36 x 36 in.
36 x 36 in.
Edition of 250, 50 AP, 15 PP, 15 HC, 35 TP
10 numbered in Roman numerals, signed and numbered in pencil.There are 35 TP Signed and numbered in pencil.
Printed in 1986, Andy Warhol's signed screenprint Kachina Dolls (F. & S. II.381) portrays a Kachina doll—a symbol deeply rooted in Native American culture—on Lenox Museum Board. This print is part of Warhol’s 1986 Cowboys and Indians portfolio, which consists of ten screenprints.
Kachina dolls are sacred artefacts used by certain Native American tribes, particularly in the Southwest, for religious education and rituals. In Warhol’s rendition, the dolls are depicted in his signature Pop Art style, characterised by whimsical use of colour against a stark white background. The print features two Kachina dolls: one in black and white and the other vividly coloured with bright pinks, purples, and oranges. Warhol’s stylized approach emphasises the dolls' decorative elements while straying from their realistic and cultural contexts.
Though Warhol often claimed his work was socially and politically neutral, the Cowboys and Indians series touches on significant historical and cultural tensions. By presenting subjects like Kachina dolls in a manner consistent with media and popular culture portrayals, Warhol highlights the contrast between the mythologized Wild West and historical reality. His work, including Kachina Dolls, reflects the way the American imagination has reshaped history into a more glamorous and simplified version than the actual past.