Andy Warhol (1928-1987) Group of 5 Cover Illustrations for Robert Bell's The Butterfly Tree, 1959 Mixed media on paper 10 x 7 inches (25.4 x 17.8 cm) (sheets) One signed and inscribed at lower edge: Andy Warhol to Bob Four signed in red crayon: Andy Sold to Benefit the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation PROVENANCE: Robert Bell, Fort Worth, Texas; Fort Worth Public Library collection, gift from the above. NOTE: This lot is accompanied by a first edition copy of Bell's The Butterfly Tree, signed on the cover by Andy Warhol, and signed by the author on the inside cover. This lot also includes a scrapbook from the collection of Robert Bell with material relating to the production of The Butterfly Tree. Andy Warhol is synonymous with the Pop Art movement—he evokes Campbell Soup cans, color-blocked portraits, and glamourous happenings at The Factory followed by a twirl at Studio 54—not only an artist, but a time and a place. However, Warhol's career begins on a similar path to most fine artists—illustration. In the 1950s, after receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Pictorial Design from Carnegie Mellon University, Warhol's first job was designing shoes for Isreal Miller, creating his famous "blotted line" technique. The popularity of his sophisticated temperamental shoe drawings led to his first solo show at the Hugo Gallery in New York as well as his first group exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. During this period, Warhol began experimenting with an epidiascope – utilizing photographs to complete quick tracing of contours, lines, and shadows. In 1958, Warhol illustrated his first book cover The Immortal utilizing this technique that would soon become the basis of The Factory. The following year, Warhol was commissioned to create the cover of The Butterfly Tree. Warhol must have been inspired by the tale of fulfillment and the end of innocence as he created not just one possible cover, but five for the author, Robert Bell, to choose from. The viewer can clearly see Warhol's "blotted line" technique in all five examples as well as the artist's playful use of negative space. The work that was selected to be the cover for The Butterfly Tree utilizes all three of these skills with dramatic and chaotic cut-out letters in contrast to the contained and simplistic figure of a boy. These five works are excellent and rare examples of Warhol's evolution from commercial artist to fine artist to icon. While writing The Butterfly Tree, Robert Bell was working as the assistant director of the Fort Worth Library from 1955-1959. He left the original five Warhol drawings, a first edition signed by himself and Warhol, and a scrap book to the Fort Worth Library Foundation. HID03101062020 © 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Group presents well. Each sheet with some scattered creasing and minor scratching, and a few small tears and bumps to extreme edges and corners. Sheets are each mounted to board and framed separately under glass. Please note that sheet and frame dimensions are both approximate. Each sheet is hand-cut and varies slightly in size. Scrapbook: some wear and discoloration throughout, commensurate with age. Some paper elements have loosened from their adhesive. Some areas of slight discoloration to the adhesives. Scuffing and wear to the covers. 'The Butterfly Tree' First Edition: some scattered small losses and tears to edges and corners of the dust jacket. An additional few scattered small dots of discoloration to the cover of the dust jacket.
Framed Dimensions 14.5 X 11 Inches Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only And should Not be relied upon as statements of fact, And do Not constitute a representation, warranty, Or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "As Is"

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