Warhol Great Books

100531387

Dr. Gose

Great Books 2

February 18, 2016

Andy Warhol: The Religious Man

Andy Warhol was a painter who introduced Pop Art into the art community in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Even though Warhol often painted pictures of pop culture icons that were labeled as social commentary on society, he truly depicted religious ideas and figures in his art. He is able to utilize Augustine’s idea of tangibility and intangibility under God, in coherence with many of the Catholic beliefs and doctrines. The reason for Warhol’s subliminal religious themes are derived from his Catholic religious views; however, he kept this aspect of his life secret. While there is a strong argument that supports the idea that Warhol painted on the basis of social commentary, the reality of the situation is that he painted based on his spiritual world view.

In many of Warhol’s paintings he presents the idea of a concrete image (whether it be a mountain, animal, person, etc.); however, if you look closer you will also see that he outlines these pictures with trace marks. These can be interpreted to represent Augustine’s idea between the real, and the divine. “Also I considered all the other things that are of a lower order than yourself, and saw that they have not absolute being in themselves, nor are they entirely without being.” (Confessions) This reveals to the viewers of his art pieces, that Warhol subscribed to the idea of spirituality as being the paradox between the tangible and intangible. In fact Warhol pays homage to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in one of his paintings by depicting a black background with brush strokes that make up a figure. Since Plato mused upon the idea of Forms, and Augustine brought that idea into Christian thought; it seems that Warhol believed in a spiritual division between the real and the divine.

Outside of Plato and Augustine lies the teachings of the Catholic Church, that brings a new perspective to Warhol’s art. The idea of the two swords shows...