Final answer:
The 'Marilyn Diptych' by Andy Warhol is a conceptual art piece that consists of fifty silkscreened images of Marilyn Monroe. It represents the idea of celebrity and explores themes of mortality and the commercialization of fame. Created in 1962, this artwork is now part of Tate's collection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Description of 'Marilyn Diptych'
The Marilyn Diptych is a seminal work by artist Andy Warhol, created in 1962. This artwork is a silkscreen painting on canvas and measures 80.88 inches by 114 inches. It is now housed in the Tate. The Marilyn Diptych features fifty images of the actress Marilyn Monroe, which are repeated in rows on two joined canvases. These are taken from a publicity photograph from the 1953 film 'Niagara.' Warhol's creation is a prime example of Conceptual Art, where the idea or concept behind the work takes the spotlight over traditional aesthetic and material concerns.
Conceptual Art often challenges traditional views by presenting common objects in new or intriguing ways. The Marilyn Diptych does this by combining the iconic status of Monroe with the reproducibility of her image, questioning the nature of celebrity and the consumer culture of the 1960s. Half of the diptych is brightly colored, suggesting the vivacity of Marilyn's life, while the other half, in black and white, fades progressively, hinting at her tragic death. The use of the diptych form, with a key term referring to a pair of linked panels, adds to the thematic juxtaposition of life and mortality.
The piece reflects on the public's obsession with celebrity and Monroe's immortalization in popular culture, resonating with the religious tradition of painted icons and, as seen in Warhol's Gold Marilyn Monroe, links to the Byzantine Madonna. This intersection of spiritual and commercial elevates Monroe to the status of a secular saint while simultaneously underscoring the commercially manufactured nature of her fame.