Andy Warhol made Dollar Sign 275 (Trial Proof) as part of his series ($) in 1982. This particular print is characterized by a sketched red dollar sign above a dark blue shadow on top of a light background. The print is a trial proof, meaning that there is no print like it, and it is different than the regular edition prints of Dollar Sign 275. Trial proofs are some of the most valuable and unique Warhol works to own, as they are all unique in color and/or composition.
Dollar Sign 275 Trial Proof as Part of Andy Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
The Dollar Sign series from 1982 is the ultimate manifestation of Andy Warhol’s love affair with money. Warhol once said, “I like money on the wall,” and the series was his way of using his iconic imagery to achieve just that. The series is comprised of multiple variations of dollar sign screen prints on Lenox Museum Board in a variety of vibrant colors. The Dollar Sign prints contain a source image that was created by Warhol himself, which was an uncommon practice for Warhol, setting this series apart from the rest of his body of work. The Dollar Sign series is a superb example of Warhol seizing an internationally recognizable symbol and altering it into something that was purely Warholian.
Photo credit: Andy Warhol with Dollar Sign painting, New York, 1982. Image: © Santi Visalli, Artwork: © 2022 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by DACS, London