The Star | 1981, signed Andy Warhol offset lithographic print from the 'Myths' Series

Andy Warhol’s The Star captures Greta Garbo in her iconic role as Mata Hari, drawing from a 1931 publicity photo. Unlike his 1960s portraits that fixated on contemporary celebrity, this work reflects Warhol’s later exploration of nostalgia and enduring fame. Revisiting an image nearly fifty years after its creation, he underscores Garbo’s transition from cinematic legend to mythic figure, her sudden retirement in 1941 adding to her mystique. Part of Warhol’s Myths series, The Star stands apart by emphasizing Garbo herself as the commercial icon, blurring the line between individual and symbol, artist and celebrity, hero and commodity.

This piece is an offset lithographic colour print on card, signed in white marker pen and stamped “Andy Warhol” on the verso. Published in 1981 in collaboration with Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York, it measures 17.8 x 17.8 cm. These prints were originally produced as promotional cards for Warhol’s Myths series rather than as formal limited editions, making signed examples particularly scarce.