Unidentified Woman (Young Blonde in Blue Polyester Blazer) 1974

This Polaroid was shot by Andy Warhol, sometime in the 70s or 80s I guess. It's an anonymous portrait of a blonde woman, all dressed up in a blue polyester blazer. I love Polaroids; you only get one shot. It's fascinating to think about the brief interaction, the setup, and the moment Warhol chose to capture. Was this a quick snapshot, or a carefully posed portrait? Did Warhol say anything to her? How did she feel in that moment? Warhol was probably a very intimidating, albeit interesting, guy. She seems slightly awkward, maybe insecure. The light is flat, and the colors are muted. It’s kind of hauntingly beautiful. In this, it kind of reminds me of some of the early portraits by Alice Neel. Both artists really captured something about the zeitgeist, the mood of their subjects, through really direct, unvarnished means. Like Alice, Andy invites us to find beauty in the everyday.