Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) by Andy Warhol is a rare trial proof variation of his 1985 Blackglama screenprint, produced in connection with the Ads Complete Portfolio. In this version, Judy Garland appears wrapped in a dark fur coat, her pale face sharply outlined against a saturated yellow ground. Her lips glow red, her eyes are heavily defined, and her expression feels poised yet distant. The famous slogan “What becomes a legend most?” hovers above her head. Below, the Blackglama logo anchors the composition below, reinforcing the tension between glamour, branding, and mortality that defines the image.
Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) and the Trial Proof Process
Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) was printed during the editioning process. This was the stage when Warhol and his printer evaluated color balance, line quality, and overall impact before finalizing the regular edition. Trial proofs often show subtle differences in saturation, contrast, or surface texture. Furthermore, they exist in far smaller numbers than the standard edition. As a result, trial proofs offer a direct glimpse into Warhol’s decision-making process. They preserve the immediacy of experimentation that precedes the finished portfolio prints.
Judy Garland, Blackglama, and Advertising Mythology
Warhol based Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) on Judy Garland’s appearance in the Blackglama fur campaign. It was famous for its tagline “What becomes a legend most?” The campaign featured icons of twentieth-century culture, including Lauren Bacall, Diana Ross, Marlene Dietrich, and Ray Charles. Garland, celebrated for her role in The Wizard of Oz embodied both stardom and vulnerability. Fred Astaire described her as “the greatest entertainer who ever lived.” Warhol knew her personally and once recalled noticing her at the Factory when others did not, a memory that adds emotional weight to his portrayal.
Visually, Warhol transforms the advertisement into something closer to a memorial image. The intense contrast between Garland’s luminous face and the dark fur coat heightens her fragility. At the same time, the acidic yellow background pushes the composition toward artificiality. Rather than celebrating luxury alone, this artwork exposes how celebrity identity becomes inseparable from marketing, repetition, and consumption.
Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Warhol’s fascination with advertising dates back to his early career as a commercial illustrator in the 1950s. That sensibility culminated in the Ads series, which also includes works like Mobil, Apple, Van Heusen (Ronald Reagan), and The New Spirit (Donald Duck). Within this context, Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) stands out for its emotional gravity. It blurs the boundary between advertisement and elegy. Consequently, it reveals how Warhol could turn commercial imagery into a meditation on fame, loss, and legacy.
For collectors, Blackglama 351 (Trial Proof) holds special significance. It combines the cultural power of Judy Garland, the iconic Blackglama campaign, and the rarity of a trial proof, making it a compelling artifact from Warhol’s late engagement with advertising, celebrity, and memory.
Photo credit: Judy Garland for the 1968 Blackglama “What Becomes a Legend Most?” advertising campaign, photographed by Richard Avedon.
