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Geronimo 384 (Trial Proof) by Andy Warhol is a 1986 screenprint from the artist’s Cowboys and Indians portfolio. This trial proof edition features Warhol’s bold reinterpretation of the famed Apache leader Geronimo, combining striking color contrasts with the artist’s characteristic Pop Art precision. The portrait captures Geronimo’s intense gaze against an orange field, with his face rendered in vivid yellows, reds, and blues. Warhol’s hand-drawn outlines and layered hues create a sense of strength and immediacy, transforming the historical figure into a modern icon.
The Trial Proof edition of Geronimo 384 was produced before the final portfolio printing. These proofs were created to test variations in color, ink density, and composition, offering a rare glimpse into Warhol’s creative process. Each trial proof is unique, often differing subtly from the standard edition, making them especially sought after by collectors. This proof, numbered and signed in pencil, reflects Warhol’s meticulous attention to visual balance and his interest in experimentation.
The Cowboys and Indians Portfolio
The Cowboys and Indians series, published in 1986, was Warhol’s final major portfolio before his death the following year. It consists of ten screenprints portraying figures and symbols from the mythology of the American West. Subjects include Annie Oakley, General Custer, and Native American leaders such as Sitting Bull and Geronimo. Through this collection, Warhol examined the tension between popular culture’s romanticized view of the West and its historical realities.
Geronimo 384 stands out within the portfolio for its solemnity and intensity. Warhol stripped away the irony often found in his celebrity portraits, instead emphasizing dignity and resistance. The bold palette contrasts with the stoic expression, symbolizing both heroism and struggle. Moreover, Warhol’s use of bright, artificial color highlights the tension between myth and truth, revealing how mass media shaped America’s collective memory of its frontier past.
Geronimo 384 (Trial Proof) in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
In Geronimo 384, Warhol merged history with modern iconography, much as he did in his portraits of world leaders and celebrities. However, the Cowboys and Indians series took this approach further by questioning America’s own self-image. While Warhol often celebrated consumer culture, here he reflected on national identity and representation. The portfolio contrasts the heroic imagery of cowboys with the overlooked narratives of Indigenous people, exposing the contradictions within American mythmaking.
Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith in New York, Geronimo 384 (Trial Proof) demonstrates Warhol’s late-career mastery of silkscreen technique. The artist’s deliberate use of heavy color blocks and dynamic outlines evokes both commercial design and reverent portraiture. In this way, Warhol reimagined Geronimo not merely as a historical subject but as a symbol of resistance and endurance.
Today, Geronimo 384 (Trial Proof) is celebrated for its rarity and cultural resonance. It bridges the gap between Pop Art and political commentary, capturing the intersection of art, history, and identity that defined Warhol’s final years.
