Queen Elizabeth II 337 by Andy Warhol reimagines an official portrait of the monarch through sharply defined linework, color blocking and a bold, electric palette. Warhol places the Queen against a deep cobalt background, framing her face with saturated blocks of red and lavender. Her crown and hair carry crisp red outlines, while her pale skin appears luminous at the center of the composition. The result is a vivid, stylized depiction of Queen Elizabeth II that blends regal formality with Warhol’s unmistakable Pop intensity.
Origins of Queen Elizabeth II 337
Queen Elizabeth II 337 belongs to Warhol’s 1985 Reigning Queens portfolio. This series of sixteen screenprints portrayed four monarchs ruling in their own right. These are Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland, and Queen Elizabeth II. Warhol completed the portfolio just two years before his death. He based the image on Peter Grugeon’s 1975 photograph taken at Windsor Castle and later used for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. The original portrait circulated widely on stamps and government materials, which aligned naturally with Warhol’s long-standing fascination with reproduced images.
Warhol’s Technique and Visual Approach
Warhol relied on the silkscreen method to build the crisp contours and layered colors that define Queen Elizabeth II 337. The intense blue background heightens the Queen’s presence. Red outlines around her crown and hair guide the viewer toward her face. In addition, the large blocks of contrasting color echo Warhol’s collage-influenced works from the 1970s. By foregrounding the Queen’s jewelry and emblematic regalia, Warhol emphasized not only her public identity but also the spectacle of monarchy itself.
Queen Elizabeth II 337 in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Warhol often explored feminine authority, glamour, and fame. His portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, and the Ladies and Gentlemen series similarly elevate women as icons of public imagination. With Queen Elizabeth II 337, he shifted this focus to political power. In this work, he presents the monarch as both an individual figure and a global symbol.
Moreover, the series fits within Warhol’s larger interest in state imagery. However, they differ from his portrayals of Richard Nixon, Vladimir Lenin, and Mao Zedong. Rather than focusing on political tension, these works turn toward ceremony, symbolism, and the visual pageantry surrounding royal authority. When the Royal Collection acquired several prints in 2012 to honor the Queen’s 60-year reign, the gesture underscored the enduring resonance of Warhol’s vision.
Photo Credit: Andy Holding print of Queen Elizabeth. Photo by Derek Husdon. Courtesy of Getty Images.
