Camouflage 406 is the first screenprint in Andy Warhol’s Camouflage series. It is one of the most recognizable as the pattern is used for American military uniforms. He adds stark white accents, making the print more abstract looking than a simple recreation of the militaristic pattern. Warhol exaggerates the recognizable print with more bold colors to take something mundane and put a pop art spin on it.
Camouflage 406 by Andy Warhol as Part of his Larger Body of Work
Warhol’s Camouflage portfolio was the last set of prints he published before his death the same year. His assistant, Jay Shriver, had shared with Warhol that he was working on abstract paintings by pushing paint through the mesh of military cloth and immediately Warhol became inspired. He had Shriver run down to the local New York army surplus store near Union Station to buy some camouflage fabric. As soon as Jay had returned with the fabric, the fabric was photographed and the mesh was removed to only reveal the shapes and patterns of the fabric. Warhol died the same year the Camouflage portfolio was printed and was not given the opportunity to sign these. While still alive, Warhol had the opportunity to exhibit the Camouflage screenprints only once at a group show in New York, 1986.
