GM, Gen Art Lovers!☀️
Surely you've heard of Warhol's Campbell's Soup paintings. They may seem like fun, insignificant artworks, but what makes them special enough to hang in the MoMA? What have they contributed to Art History? 
Spoiler: there’s much concept behind them.

In 1962, Warhol had been living in New York for a decade, working as a successful illustrator for fashion magazines. His elegant pen-and-ink illustrations from that era are still celebrated today.
But Warhol wanted more: he aspired to enter the realm of Fine Arts.

Generative art and Render art. Art professor. Exhibited in N.Y., L.A., London, Hong Kong, Madrid, Athens and Cardiff. Creator of “Catharsis”

His first truly “artistic” work was the series of 32 Campbell’s Soup Cans, exhibited at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles. Each painting depicted a different flavor, priced at $100 per canvas, or $1,000 for the entire collection.
Fun fact: no one bought the whole series! 😱
(in the picture: Irving Blum, owner of Ferus Gallery, with Andy Warhol’s 32 Campbell’s Soup Cans in 1962)

But what’s the meaning behind painting soup cans? What is Warhol trying to say with this artwork? 
The key lies in the concept of “still life.”
Still life painting is a genre that has been around for centuries. You’ve seen it countless times: depictions of food, tablecloths, vegetables, fruits, utensils...

Each era has adapted the idea of the still life to reflect its own styles, thoughts, and feelings. 
For example, in 1892, Cézanne’s modern still lifes redefined the genre with his disjointed perspectives, laying the groundwork for Picasso's cubism.

Warhol asked himself: What would a still life look like in the 1960s? How could he portray the everyday reality of modern society? What defined the era and set it apart from any other moment in history?

His answer: by the 1960s, natural, fresh food —so common in traditional still lifes— had been replaced by processed, pre-packaged food. The art of gastronomy had transformed into an industrial act. And represent them stacked, like they are displayed on a supermarket, makes it even more meaningful.

Importantly, Warhol didn’t pass judgment on this phenomenon. He didn’t criticize or glorify it; he simply brought it to light. 
In fact, he himself loved Campbell’s soup (he claimed he ate it every day) and drank Coca-Cola almost exclusively.

As a contemporary interpretation of the still life, Warhol’s proposal is both brilliant and profoundly insightful. It reimagines the genre in a way that reflects the cultural and industrial realities of his time. This conceptual depth earned him the respect of the art world and secured his soup cans a place in the MoMA and in Art History books.

Another fun fact: One of the original paintings, sold for $100 in 1962, was been recently sold in 2006 for $11.7 million. This staggering leap in value speaks to its cultural and artistic significance. 

But, what’s your personal take? Do you find them an interesting artistic statement? Or just a playful attempt to grab attention? 
And how would you imagine a "still life" image that represents our society today? 
Can you do better than Warhol?
Let me know your thoughts!