Superman, from Myths 1981

This is Andy Warhol's "Superman," from his "Myths" series, and in it, he layers screen printing to create this sense of motion, of Superman, like, bursting into action. I love how Warhol uses color here—the bold blues and reds against that stark black background. It’s not subtle, but it's also got this strange flatness to it. Look how the colors are laid down; they don't blend or fade. You get these clear, defined edges, which give it that pop art punch. Then, you notice the textural differences. The screen printing process gives it a certain graininess. It’s not about hiding the process; it’s about embracing it. Check out the right arm. See how the colors are slightly off-register? That slippage reveals the mechanical process, the layers of color building up this iconic figure. And that arm, raised in triumph, becomes almost abstract. It's all about the gesture, the power, and the myth. It reminds me of other artists who explore the idea of celebrity and repetition, like Richard Hamilton. It’s cool to see how artists are constantly riffing off each other.