The Campbell’s Soup Cans I complete portfolio, created in 1968 by Andy Warhol, consists of ten prints of Campbell’s Soup cans. In fact, it is one of the artist’s most famous and controversial series, and it helped him champion the Pop Art movement. This portfolio was Warhol’s second series of soup can artworks. It debuted six years after his original 32 Campbell’s Soup Cans paintings. It was later followed by Campbell’s Soup Cans II in 1969.
The thirty-two canvases that make up the original Campbell’s Soup Cans series include hand-painted illustrations of thirty-two different flavors of Campbell’s soup. The star of Warhol’s first solo gallery exhibition in 1962, the original Campbell’s Soup Cans series is one of his earliest, most compelling works.
From Hand-Painting to Mechanized Reproduction
Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans I complete portfolio mixes his signature mass-production techniques with individualized details. For example, he included hand-lettering on the labels, which contrast sharply with the uniform look of advertising. To maintain consistency, Warhol used a combination of projection and tracing when outlining each can. He also created a stamp for the Fleur de Lys pattern on the bottom rim of each can, which saved him from having to paint each symbol individually.
With this portfolio, Warhol shifted from hand-painting to screenprinting, further mechanizing his process. This was also one of the first suites he produced with his new company, Factory Additions, which distributed his prints. The ten-screenprint set features flavors from the original series, including Black Bean 44, Chicken Noodle 45, Tomato 46, and Cream of Mushroom 53. Afterward, Campbell’s Soup Cans II built on these with additional flavors and variations. Together, the two portfolios represent an evolving meditation on repetition and design. Moreover, Campbell’s Soup Cans I features some of the most widely recognized prints from the entire collection.
Warhol’s Ongoing Fascination with Soup Cans
Over time, Warhol’s fixation on Campbell’s soup cans continued throughout his career. He subsequently revisited the theme at many points in his career, changing color palettes and manipulating images. Nevertheless, the Campbell’s Soup Cans I complete portfolio marks a key turning point: the beginning of his use of soup cans as an enduring symbol and one of the first major uses of screenprinting as a means to democratize art.
In addition, Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans I complete portfolio reflects the monotony and repetitive characteristics of advertising, examining everyday objects as fine art. Of his decision to depict soup cans, Warhol said, “I used to drink it. I used to have the same lunch every day, for 20 years, I guess, the same thing over and over again.” Therefore, in the Campbell’s Soup Cans I complete portfolio, Warhol turns his daily meal into an iconic work of art. Moreover, he engages with the mass production techniques that are so ingrained in our lives, truly fulfilling his wish of becoming “a machine.”
Campbell’s Soup Cans I Complete Portfolio as Part of Andy Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
One of Warhol’s most iconic portfolios, Campbell’s Soup Cans I, is recognizable by even beginner Warhol enthusiasts. Indeed, it was with these soup cans that Warhol started to become a household name. When Warhol first showed the soup cans in California they created quite a stir. Even though Warhol is mostly connected to New York, he had an impact and connection with the art and artists in California in the early 60s.
The semi-mechanized process he used to create these works became a key characteristic of Warhol’s art. Subsequently. he continued to play with the imagery of the soup can by contorting and altering them. However, it is the classic, simple version that continues to be the most popular and bring in new collectors.
Ultimately, Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans I complete portfolio helped to usher in the Pop Art movement that endures today. It paved the way for future artists like Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons to explore similar themes.
Photo Credits:
- Andy Warhol tracing Campbell’s Soup silkscreen, The Factory, New York City, circa 1965. © Estate of Nat Finkelstein. © 2021 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by DACS, London.
- Andy Warhol and Gerard Malanga make a painting, 1964.
Vintage gelatin silver print, 10¼ × 14¾ inches; 26 × 38 cm. Photo by Matthew Marks. - Andy Warhol, 1964. Vintage gelatin silver print, 10¼ × 14¾ inches; 26 × 38 cm. Photo by Matthew Marks.
