I spotted this self portrait by Andy Warhol at the Artnet Auctions. 

The story of its creation (which is provided by the owner) is part of its quirky appeal.

Andy Warhol, “Self-portrait” (1969). Unique silver gelatin print, image size 10 X 8 inches. (25.4 X 23 cm)

This unique Andy Warhol, “Self-portrait” was made on a coin-operated photostat machine in the School of Visual Arts Art Supply Store on 4/21/69. Warhol liked the privacy of the store and it’s excellent selection of artists’ materials. He was friendly with the store’s owner Mr. Donald Havenick.

Andy asked Donald if he could take his picture with the new photostat machine in the entrance to the store. Donald warned Andy that the machine used very bright hot bulbs to illuminate the glass plate during exposure. Andy said he didn’t care and persisted in wanting to take the picture.

Warhol arranged his face and hand on the glass and Donald covered him with his work apron and dropped a quarter into the slot. The result was this image which looks like a Xerox, a dry process on paper using heat. It is in fact a silver gelatin photograph. The Xerox machine was invented in 1959, but it didn’t replace the photostat and other forms of copy machines until well into the 1970’s. Warhol later returned and made a series of seven additional self-portraits which he used in an article, on his work, in the September 1969 issue of Playboy magazine.

Bridget Berlin was with Andy and she took a picture of her breasts. Mr. Havenick, shielded her with his apron to avoid embarrassing his customers. When they left the store, Donald knew his wife wouldn’t appreciate the image of Bridgid’s breasts and threw the picture into the garbage, but he kept the Warhol. His wife said it “looked like warmed over death.”

Smart choice on the part of Mr. Havenick considering the opening bid for this “photocopy” is $50,000.

POSTED BY HRAGV