In 1986, Andy Warhol embarked on a new series of screenprints which responded to his fascination with the myths and legends of the American West. Warhol appropriated photographs from movies and other sources as he began to codify the West in visual terms. Warhol’s effort to “focus” his gaze toward the American West resulted in a suite of 10 images which each had a limited print run of 250 (signed and numbered by the artist). G. R. Swenson, in Collage (1965), offered the following comment regarding Pop Art artists like Andy Warhol and their penchant for cliches and stock responses. “It is the most common cliches, the most comon stock responses which we must deal with first if we are to come to some understanding of the new possibilities available to us in this brave and not altogether hopeless new world.” Do you believe that Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians is a suite of screenprints that are “cliches and stock responses” to the myths and legends of the American West? Your thoughts?
Andy Warhol, John Wayne (from the Cowboys and Indians Suite, 1986)
Andy Warhol, Geronimo (from the Cowboys and Indians Suite, 1986)
Art and Honors BGFA 
Yes.
On the surface Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians series is a continuation of his fascination with celebrity and image making. However, he takes it a step further by injecting the myth of the west. On a deeper level, it could be read as a commentary on manifest destiny.
Cowboys and Indians is a follow-up to his early celebrity portraits. He did not take polaroids of the people depicted in each of these portraits. The original source for these images are commercial photographs – even those of Geronimo and Sitting Bull. For this reason, the series is consistent with Warhol’s celebrity categorization; it just has a darker side – not unlike his 13 Most Wanted Men. The photos taken of Geronimo and Sitting Bull were taken during a period when they were trotted out as specimens of a dying race of noble savages. They were objectified just like Warhol’s other celebrities, but they were looked at as curiosities, not glamorous stars to be emulated.
It is in the original image, before Warhol cropped and focused in on this prototype that resonates with clichés and stock responses to the myths and legends of the American West. The Cowboys and Indian series visually seem to rehash the same icons and beliefs, but I think the novelty in Warhol choosing this theme is in looking past the usual to find a new interpretation as he hones in on a more humanistic understanding. Furthermore, I think when the images are presented together; interesting and divergent relationships play out between the context and personality behind the screenprints. We get to see Geronimo and Sitting Bull together linked inadvertently as just images of notorious Indians or as a common image synonymous with being Indian, but from Warhol’s perspective we can explore deeper into their life and see two unique lives and personalities being presented. Then you are able to contrast those two portraits against the fluff persona of John Wayne’s Hollywood cowboy image. John Wayne’s image against the stature of Teddy Roosevelt presents dynamics pointing toward opening up a new dialogue on the historical reality of the West opposed to the contrived myths and legends that made for good stories and propaganda.
It is true that one must overlook the cliché and stock responses to come to a new perspective and understanding of the subject matter. One cannot let an “established” viewpoint hinder one’s pursuit of a new way of seeing. As noted in the earlier replies, it appears true that Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians presents a cliché response to the topic, because pop art is an art of the popular culture – of the mass and majority. He “printed the legend” rather than the hard facts and focused on the mystifications and representations of the west. However, this does not undermine Warhol’s artworks, because a closer inspection and experience of the screenprint series demonstrates a new way of seeing the iconic legends of the American West. For instance, themes such as mythic legend versus actual legend and created character versus actual character can be witnessed within the series, such as with the pairing of John Wayne and Annie Oakley. The two different perspectives to the history of the American West can also be experienced by the close-up frames of popular Indian chiefs and cowboys. Even within each category of “Indian or cowboy,” one can explore a unique outlook to each individual. For example, although both Indians, the different stories and lives of Geronimo and Sitting Bull were presented and captured by Warhol through his skillful cropping of the original photographs. At first glance, this particular screenprint series may appear to just simply display the stereotypical attitudes and images of the American West, but the dialogue and communication between the paintings create new concepts and ideas that theviewers can perceive when closely examined.
I think that on the surface Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians are “Clichés and stock responses”. He included the image of John Wayne that appears to be a link to his previous celebrity portraits. John Wayne is a fictional Hollywood produced character far removed from the historical real west. But, true to Warhol’s style upon closer inspection of the series as a whole, the series also contains real historical characters. These other images such as Geronimo, Sitting Bull, The Indian Woman and baby, and others change this series from frivolous Hollywood illusions to reality. These additional images have background stories that make them important historical images. These additional images add immense depth to the series and make a statement regarding the difficulties and maltreatment of the American Indians.
It is interesting that one of Warhol’s last works of his career his Cowboys and Indians is so similar to one of his first works, his Campbell’s soup cans. The works are similar because on the surface and at first glance both works seem simple and without depth, but upon closer inspection they both make strong statements, have immense perspective, and can cause much contemplation. Both works also make a statement regarding the “clichés” about America, but also make a statement about the deeper America that is masked and lurking behind that superficial front.
I think that on the surface Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians are “Clichés and stock responses”. He included the image of John Wayne that appears to be a link to his previous celebrity portraits. John Wayne is a fictional Hollywood produced character far removed from the historical real west. But, true to Warhol’s style upon closer inspection of the series as a whole, the series also contains real historical characters. These other images such as Geronimo, Sitting Bull, The Indian Woman and baby, and others change this series from frivolous Hollywood illusions to reality. These additional images have background stories that make them important historical images. These additional images add immense depth to the series and make a statement regarding the difficulties and maltreatment of the American Indians.
It is interesting that one of Warhol’s last works of his career his Cowboys and Indians is so similar to one of his first works, his Campbell’s soup cans. The works are similar because on the surface and at first glance both works seem simple and without depth, but upon closer inspection they both make strong statements, have immense perspective, and can cause much contemplation. Both works also make a statement regarding the “clichés” about America, but also make a statement about the deeper America that is masked and lurking behind that superficial front.
Yes, I do believe that Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians series are clichés and stock responses to the myths and legends of the American West. Looking at the John Wayne portrait, the stereotypical American cowboy image is prevalent. Even if you may not be acquainted with the cowboy/cowgirl culture associated with the West, you are able to make the assumption that John Wayne represents a part of that cowboy culture, just by how he is dressed and characterized within the picture. Upon first glance, the portraits in this series may seem to be just a portrayal of the myths and legends of the West; however, just as the quote says, once you look deeper at these portraits, at the individuals within these portraits, then the viewer is able to gain some understanding of these individuals. These portraits allow the viewer to learn more about the individuals behind the picture. For example, at first, the portrait of the Native American, Geronimo, may seem like it’s only about the legendary fearless warrior, but after learning about his past, his portrait no longer seems as intimidating. Now, his portrait reflects the pain he has endured throughout his life. Warhol’s portraits are known to capture the viewers’ attention, through his use of vibrant color and other techniques. It is up to the viewers; however, to go beyond just seeing the portrait. In order to gain understanding, it is pivotal to see the person, not just the portrait or the legend.
I kind of do think that Warhol used cliches. He used the images in an overall stock response in his series of Cowboy and Indians. What do I mean? Well Andy brought a lot of attention to many things that he touched in his life. With the Cowboy and Indian series as with soup cans, Warhol brings an attention to these different works that the general public has seemed to have forgotten or maybe they are unaware.These colorful characters of an earlier time in the west inhabit stories of great magnitude. If you didn’t know the stories were true you would swear they were made up. Warhol depicts his series using the most recognizable images of western figures in an attempt to broaden his net of comprehension. This comprehension is important to bring in the largest audience as possible, not only to preserve but also to create a new understanding of the west. Many of Warhol’s characters in the series are of heroes. Heroes of the big screen, the battle field, a President, two indian chiefs, and various other symbols used to tell a story of a west that is rich with stories. These stories are captivating and can bring in a new audience to the work that may have no common ground. I think it is interesting when our class was walking through the gallery for the first time. We were comparing our knowledge of Warhol’s work. I was discussing the Cowboy and Indians series with a fellow student, when a that student asked me who that was? The student was pointing at one of the western figures and stated, “was that Harrison Ford? It kind of took me by surprise. I wondered to myself how can this person not know who that person is? Warhol depicted the figure very clearly and a person with the slightest of reference could recognize the figure. I thought well yah, that makes sense the student probably hasn’t seen any of his western movies. Furthermore the student may be from a culture that doesn’t talk about the west other than a short period in school. The portrait that the student was referring to was John Wayne, interesting. The things we think that will live on forever, will they?
Through the Cowboys and Indians collection you can see that there is a somewhat cliche part to the celebrities that were chosen for the collection. Each one of them personified the very idea of the West and what it had to offer when those celebrities were in the prime of their careers. People from Geronimo, John Wayne, Sitting Bull and Theodore Roosevelt show off this personification the best about the idea that the West was something of a wild frontier that only the best and the brave could muster. As for the Indian portrayal it seemed that they were seen as the problem with why the West could not be ultimately tamed at that time. With the threats of Indians constantly attacking those that would use their land they would be seen as sinister, and add to the idea that the West would be this dangerous place for everyone to try and settle.
In his Cowboys and Indian series, Andy gives the audience what they want to see: the myths and legends of the Southwest. These myths and legends are easily the most recognizable images of this culture. But Andy Warhol was a master at taking these cliches and projecting something for the audience to truly enjoy. Andy Warhol loved his cliches and to this day his signature works still play favorites. Elvis and Marilyn are probably the two most iconic people he portrayed of all time, and being the Kind and the Blonde Bombshell, they were absolutely known to everyone who gazed at them. It was part of his genius that he could take the very familiar images from everyday scenery and breath new life into them for his audience. This is exactly what he did with his Cowboys and Indian series. He took the classic Cowboy John Wayne and the reverent Sitting Bull and made them feel no less than suitable for his canvas. Reaching back into he draftsmanship abilities, he outlined in a strikingly different way form many of his earlier portraits, but in such a way that these strokes are integrated with the final outcome. So of course he turned to the cliches, but this made the images more durable and enjoyable by having a familiarity about them draped in a Warhol manner.
The “Cowboys and Indians” series was my favorite series in the gallery. I liked it because I enjoy Westerns and I guess I enjoy the legends of the West and the whole thought of it. I would say that this series definitely represents the cliches of the American West. Maybe that’s part of the reason I like it. I like to see the image of John Wayne with his gun. When I think of John Wayne, I think of cowboys. To me, John Wayne is a cowboy. I’ve never seen him any different. I also think the screenprints he does of Geronimo and Sitting Bull are also cliched. He may have cropped the image and showed a little more insight into the photograph, but they still are cliches. When I think of Indians, the image of Sitting Bull comes to mind. He has the feather and the look of an Indian. I guess I’m stereotyping, but this is what I’m programmed to think of. Another image that stuck out to me as being a definite cliche was the action shot of the Indians on their horses. The whole color scheme of this image makes me think of the colors of an old T.V. Western show. The outlining in the image also makes the image feel like it’s moving. When I look at that image, it’s like I’m watching an old Western on television, and those, no matter what, are always cliches, what people expect to see.
I’m not sure what they mean by stock responses, but I do think that Andy Warhol was trying to create art that reflected the wild west. His Geronimo and and Teddy Roosevelt captured the essence of both men. You could tell that they were men with strong convictions. As for the, “Hollywood”, western art, I think he captured these characters in the same light that the world saw them in. They were tough, no nonsense looking paintings just like the characters they portrayed.
I think he was trying to capture a historical moment that Warhol thought was meaningful at the time. As you pointed out in many lectures, when I first gazed my eyes upon some of the characters, I had no idea who they were. So learning about them through Warhol’s silk screening was very interesting and new to me. I think Warhol painted these series not only to focusing on the history of the “West” but he was trying to keep the legends alive.