Dollar Sign (4) 281 (Black) is part of the Dollar Sign portfolio from 1982––the ultimate manifestation of Andy Warhol’s love affair with money. Warhol once said, “I like money on the wall,” and the Dollar Sign Series was his way of using his iconic imagery to achieve just that. These screenprints feature four dollar signs against a yellow and black background. The sketchy quality of the image makes a subtle, yet notable reference to comic strips.
Dollar Sign (4) 281 (Black) as Part of Andy Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Andy Warhol‘s 1982 Dollar Sign suite is one of the artist’s most famous series. 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. The Dollar Sign portfolio is the ultimate manifestation of Andy Warhol’s love affair with money. Warhol once said, “I like money on the wall,” and the Dollar Sign series was his way of using his iconic imagery to achieve just that. These prints contain a source image that was created by Warhol himself, which was an uncommon practice for him, setting this series apart from the rest of his body of work. The Dollar Sign series is one of the most recognizable examples of the artist seizing an internationally recognizable symbol and altering it into something that was purely Warholian. The Dollar Sign complete portfolio includes FS II.274-286 with variations of $ (1), $ (4), $ (Quadrant), and $ (9).
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
