Queen Beatrix 338 by Andy Warhol presents the Dutch monarch against a striking bronze ground in a vivid collage-like composition. Warhol shapes her face with cool blue tones and coral shadows, then sharpens the features with precise red outlines. A vertical block of teal rises on the left, while a vivid fuchsia shape cuts behind her head. Below, an angular orange block overlaps her dress, anchoring the composition with a bold geometric weight. These planes of color create a sense of depth and tension without overwhelming her steady, direct gaze. The result is a portrait that balances regal composure with Warhol’s unmistakable graphic energy.
Queen Beatrix 338 in the Reigning Queens Series
Queen Beatrix 338 by Andy Warhol is one of sixteen prints from the Reigning Queens series, published in 1985. The series also includes Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland. Warhol spent most of his career fixated on those in the public eye, including politicians and monarchs. His focus on royalty allowed him to expand his long-running study of fame while applying his signature use of electric color and collage-like abstraction.
Queen Beatrix and Her Historical Moment
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands reigned for 33 years. During World War II her family fled to Canada to escape the Nazi invasion, returning only after the Netherlands’ liberation. She later ascended the throne when her mother, Queen Juliana, abdicated in 1980. Beatrix shared a close friendship with Queen Elizabeth II, and although neither held extensive political power, both women served as enduring symbols of unity in their countries. When Warhol created Queen Beatrix 338, she was only five years into her reign. Through this portrait he captured a moment in time marked by the authority and presence of four ruling women.
Color, Composition, and Warhol’s Technique
Queen Beatrix 338 utilizes a bright blue to draw attention to the queen’s facial structure, creating a luminous contrast with her silver crown, earrings, and brooch. Warhol based the image on a formal publicity photograph in which Beatrix stands with a steady, forward-facing gaze. Surrounding her, bold planes of fuchsia, teal, and orange carve out a geometric frame that heightens the portrait’s sense of depth. Her emerald eyes appear gem-like within the composition, complementing the regal jewelry she wears. The result is an image that is both stately and mysterious, balancing glamour with restraint.
Exhibition Context and Reception
In June of 1985, George Mulder organized the New York opening of Warhol’s Reigning Queens portfolio. Warhol reacted negatively to the show. He complained in his diary that “nobody here cares about royalty and it’ll just be another bad review.” He even advised Jean-Michel Basquiat not to attend. Despite his reservations, the prints grew steadily in recognition. In 2012, Queen Elizabeth II acquired her portrait from the “Royal Edition,” a special diamond-dust variant that glitters when struck by light.
Queen Beatrix 338 in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
During the 1980s, Warhol released some of his most ambitious projects. He remained deeply engaged with the rising generation of artists—Keith Haring, Julian Schnabel, and Basquiat among them. At the same time, he was also expanding his presence into film and television. The same year he created the Reigning Queens series, he launched his television program Andy Warhol’s Fifteen Minutes and continued producing major portfolios such as Cowboys and Indians, Ads, and Myths. Queen Beatrix 338 reflects this productive era, showcasing Warhol’s refined approach to color, his global view of celebrity, and his interest in power beyond the sphere of American pop culture.
Photo credit: Queen Beatrix on her inauguration, 1980. Courtesy of the Royal House of the Netherlands.
