Andy Warhol‘s Dollar Sign 278 (Red) is part of one of the artist’s most famous series, Dollar Sign from 1982. Warhol’s interest in wealth and money is evident in his literal emphasis on currency and the value that society puts on a simple symbol. Dollar Sign 278 (Red) features a sketched red dollar sign against a pale background and dark green shadow of the symbol. Though the series is primarily comprised of small prints, they are some of Warhol’s most famous and recognized works. They symbolize the obsession with wealth and consumerism that fascinated Warhol throughout his career.
Dollar Sign 278 by Andy Warhol as Part of His 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 Dollar Sign prints contain a source image that was created by Warhol himself which was an uncommon practice for Warhol, setting it apart from the rest of his body of work. The Dollar Sign series is a superb example of Warhol seizing a 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
