Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 342 (Trial Proof) by Andy Warhol is a screenprint from his Reigning Queens Complete Portfolio. In this trial proof, Warhol presents Queen Margrethe II in profile. He renders her face in soft turquoise with gold outlines that brighten her features. Blocks of rose, lavender, and red hover around her silhouette, giving the portrait a collage-like rhythm that feels both formal and contemporary. The cool palette and clean contour lines create a calm, regal mood. At the same time, the shifted colors show Warhol testing variations during the editioning process.
Origins of The Reigning Queens Series
Warhol completed Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 342 (Trial Proof) in 1985 as part of his ambitious Reigning Queens series. The full portfolio features four ruling monarchs of the time—women who held power by birthright rather than marriage. These included Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland, and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The series became one of Warhol’s largest portfolios, yet its edition size remained comparatively small. This makes the trial proofs especially desirable. These proofs were created during the printing process to test color, line weight, and contrast. As a result, each trial proof reveals the experimentation that shaped the final edition.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark 342 (Trial Proof) in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Warhol produced the Reigning Queens series during the mid-1980s. This was a period marked by renewed critical attention and collaborations with rising artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Salle. During this time, he explored political figures with unusual focus. He created portraits of global leaders including Alexander the Great, Vladimir Lenin, and John F. Kennedy. Within this context, Queen Margrethe II stands out because Warhol highlights not political conflict but dignity, symbolism, and the visual language of monarchy. Moreover, the collage-like blocks of color connect this portrait to his earlier celebrity works while still signaling a shift toward refined, pared-down compositions. As a trial proof, the print captures a moment of artistic decision-making, revealing how Warhol balanced clarity, color, and royal iconography.
Photo credits: (1) First official photograph of Queen Margrethe II after her 1972 ascension, courtesy of Hulton and Getty archives. (2) Andy Warhol signing an offset lithograph issued for the promotion of the Queen Beatrix print, photographer unknown.
