Campbell's Soup Cans II is a work of art produced in 1969 by Andy Warhol as part of his Campbell's Soup Cans series that consists of 250 sets of 10 screenprints. This set is held by several notable museums. It differs from the preceding set of 1968 Campbell's Soup I screenprints and has variations within the series.
Details
Following Campbell's Soup I the prior year, Warhol produced 250 of this 10-piece set of screenprints.[1] Warhol commented on his silkscreens saying "the reason I’m painting this way is that I want to be a machine, and I feel that whatever I do and do machine-like is what I want to do."[2]
The screenprints were produced in New York City by the Salvatore Silkscreen Company. There are 26 artist's proofs signed in ballpoint pen verso.[3] The work is in several public collections including, Museum of Modern Art,[4]Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago,[5] and the Milwaukee Art Museum.[6] The Museum of Modern Art credits Salvatore Silkscreen Company as the printer, while crediting Factory Additions as the publisher. They approximate the dimensions of each screenshot composition at 31.875 by 18.875 inches (81.0 cm × 47.9 cm) on a sheet of 35.0625 by 23.0625 inches (89.1 cm × 58.6 cm),[4] while the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago rounds these dimensions at 35 by 23 inches (88.9 cm × 58.4 cm).[5]
According to the Warhol-focussed Revolver Gallery, the cans of each individual screenshot are center-aligned with regularity and have more slogans and catch-phrases included than the set of cans in Campbell's Soup I. These variations from the earlier screenprint series are most apparent in specific versions such as Hot Dog Bean, Vegetarian Vegetable, and Tomato-Beef Noodle O’s. Warhols use of shadow detailing and light refraction on the tin lids gives each can in this series uniqueness.[7]
As of July 29, 2022[update], the record price for a screenprint from this series was the 2013 sale of Hot Dog Bean soup for $258,046 ($337,524 in 2023) in Vienna.[8] Following a falling out between Warhol and some former employees, the "Sunday B Morning" fiasco has led to unauthorized production of his work from his own intellectual property,[9] including elements of this set.[10]
The set consists of ten prints: Tomato Beef Noodle O',[5]Chicken 'n Dumplings,[11]Vegetarian Vegetable,[12]Clam Chowder,[13]Old fashioned vegetable made with beef stock,[14]Scotch Broth,[15]Cheddar Cheese,[16]Oyster Stew,[17]Golden Mushroom,[18] and Hot Dog Bean.[19]
