Andy Warhol created Fiesta Pig 184 in the same style as After the Party 183 in 1979. Using the same subject matter as After the Party 183, this screen print depicts a pig investigating plates and drinks left from an abandoned party. Warhol incorporates his unparalleled style color-blocking in the image, using contrasting colors to make the subject pop. This screen print shows the humorous side of Warhol that is often lost in his portrait screen prints. The image suggests a hedonistic excess that was associated with rumors and accounts of Andy Warhol’s time in New York in The Factory and Studio 54.
Fiesta Pig 184 as Part of Andy Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Warhol created this work after it was commissioned by the publisher for the readers of German newspaper Die Welt. Though it is perhaps not as well-known as many of his other works, Fiesta Pig 184 maintains Warhol’s staples through his iconic choice of vibrant colors. While the image is fun and whimsical, it is often difficult to interpret. Bottles and plate surround the pig as he seems to rummage through the remnants of a recent party. The ambiguous and nonsensical theme gives the piece a surreal undertone.
Photo credit: Andy Warhol, Fiesta Pig, 1979. Two unique Polaroid prints; each- 4.25 x 3.375 in. 10.8 x 8.5 cm. Courtesy of Christie’s.
