Warhol’s ‘Campbell’s Soup’ has become a defining emblem of American consciousness. ‘Tomato Soup’ was first created by Warhol in 1962 as one of the 32 paintings of Campbell’s soup flavours exhibited in his first solo show at Fergus Gallery in Los Angeles. The series, which Warhol reproduced prolifically throughout his career in the form of screenprints, attempted to capture the mechanical process of production that challenges the beliefs of how ‘high-art’ is created. In the 1970s, some of his prints were even handed out for free at exhibitions, or printed onto tote bags, which people blue-tacked onto their wall or used as shopping bags. The series is also an ode to post-war consumerism and food marketing, Warhol said of Campbell’s soup, ‘I used to drink it. I used to have the same lunch every day, for 20 years, I guess, the same thing over and over again’.

Screenprint in colours, 1968, on wove paper, signed in ball-point pen and numbered with a rubber stamp, verso, from the edition of 250 (there were also 26 artist's proofs lettered A-Z), printed by Salvatore Silkscreen Co., Inc., New York, published by Factory Additions, New York, 88.9 x 58.4 cm. (35 x 23 in.)