ANDY WARHOL "A + P SURPRISE" LITHOGRAPH, 1959

Andy Warhol is arguably the most important American artist of the 20th century. In the 1950s, he was an in-demand and celebrated illustrator working for New York's toniest publications (like Harper's Bazaar) and elegant shops (such as Bonwit Teller) in addition to many smaller independent fashion companies. 

Throughout the decade, Warhol received numerous awards and accolades for his illustrations - yet he found it difficult to surpass the designation of “commercial artist”. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s when Warhol completed a successful campaign for shoe retailer Miller & Sons, that he was finally granted widespread recognition for his renderings. 

"A + P Surprise" is a delightful paradigm from this era. This whimsical lithograph is an output from Warhol's self-published cookbook, "Wild Raspberries", a collection of fanciful recipes and illustrations that satirize the extravagant gastronomy of the 1950s. 

This spread features an abundant cake stand with a decorative red bow, paired with cheeky recipe instructions. The lithograph print is accented by a vibrant wash of orange pigment that animates Warhol’s signature linework.

The cookbook was an amusing collaboration between Warhol, his close friend Suzie Frankfurt, the author of the book, and his mother Julia Warhola, who brought the recipes to life with her iconic cursive calligraphy. 

This early work is a unique example of Warhol’s playful sensibility and passion for contrasting color. In recent years there has been new scholarship and commercial interest in these early works created prior to Pop Art. As the Warhol market continues to accelerate, there are fewer examples of unique original works in circulation.

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"A + P Surprise, Wild Raspberries"

USA, 1959

Offset lithograph with hand-coloring 

Stamped by the estate and numbered "PM23 0490" 

17.5"H 22.25"W (sheet)