« Campbell's Soup Cans » contains 32 20-inch by 16-inch , each of a different variety or of Campbell's soup, first presented in Los Angeles on 9th July 1962 (date considered the beginning of Pop Art) and now on permanent exhibition at the MOMA. The list of soups was provided by Campbell's and respects the order of introduction of each flavour onto the market.
Manufacturing process: semi-mechanical (stencil) silk-screen painting, with and a . The work is rather than abstract.
Public reaction: people were surprised by the complete change from and the interest in popular culture. But there is apparently no message: what did Warhol mean to say?
Interpretation: a) The work is a declaration of love for , and the idea that art is for everybody, not just for the elite. b) Art and : Warhol thinks advertising is a form of art and that ads can be used as a source of inspiration. The large number of cans the and the of modern consumption. c) A work of art in touch with the present: it expresses the in its and in the way it showcases a very . d) Many believe Warhol was criticizing , with its emphasis on , on uniformity (making mass production cheaper and more profitable), and its rejection of the old and love of the new.
Conclusion: Warhol said everybody had a right to a quarter of an hour of . Perhaps all his art was saying this: art is for everybody, just as fame can be for everybody. It is certain that he became famous because of Pop Art, and he remains today one of the most important and artists.
Listen to the whole recording. What is it about?Écoute tout l'enregistrement. De quoi parle-t-il ?
- The recording gives
- The conclusion is that
The facts: listen again and choose.Les faits : écoute encore et choisis.
- When and where was the work first presented?
- In what order are the soups painted?
- Which colours dominate the work?
- How did people react to the work?
- According to the first interpretation, who is art for?
- What does the large number of cans symbolize?
- According to Warhol, what does everybody have a right to?
Reading between the lines: what can you understand, even if it is not said?Lire entre les lignes : que peut-on comprendre, même si ce n'est pas dit ?
- « Everybody has a right to a quarter of an hour of fame. » For Warhol, fame is
- Warhol thinks ads can be a source of inspiration. So for him, advertising is
- « There is apparently no message. » That is why
Listen and drag the missing words into the text.Écoute et fais glisser les mots manquants dans le texte.
Your turn (on a sheet of paper).À toi (sur une feuille).
« Did Warhol love or hate the consumer age? » On a sheet of paper, give your opinion in 10 to 12 lines.
Use the arguments of the recordings: a declaration of love for popular culture · art for everybody · ads as a source of inspiration · the excess and uniformity of consumption · a criticism of capitalism · a quarter of an hour of fame…
Useful phrases: In my opinion… · On the one hand… on the other hand… · What is more… · However… · To
conclude…
Then debate with a partner who has the opposite opinion!
The life of Andy Warhol · Where did Pop Art come from? · Campbell's Soup Cans · Warhol's road to fame · What do the soup cans mean? · Translations · Final test · The words of Pop Art · Back to Art & media