News: Rare Warhol Hits Auction Block

A 1962 Andy Warhol painting of a Campbell’s soup can, with can opener, is headed for the auction block at Christie’s auction house. The painting is part of a lot featuring post-war and contemporary art, and is expected to go for between $30 million and $50 million. The work was one of 11 Warhol would paint of large-scale Campbell’s soup cans, and helped shape the image of much of Warhol’s art in the ‘60s. All but three of these paintings are held by museums.
 
The painting, called “Big Campbell’s Soup Can with Can Opener (Vegetable)”, was created in 1962, shortly before Warhol’s offbeat works glorifying everyday objects became famous. “It’s an incredibly important, very iconic work,” said Laura Paulson, the auction house’s post-war and contemporary art deputy chairman. “When he painted the soup can picture . . . it changed the course of art history. No one had seen anyone do anything like this.” The auction is set for November 10th.