ANDY WARHOL

A Mondrian-like design provides a pleasing backdrop for this lavishly illustrated biography. Primary sources—many obtained from interviews conducted by the author—augment the flow of the account, which concentrates on Warhol’s development and career as a painter. Rubin’s compact narrative moves easily from biography to art history, explaining both the context of his work and his technique, drawing comparisons between his methodology and the workshops of the Renaissance. Although Warhol clearly comes across as a bizarre character—a picture of the silver-and-tinfoil Factory features the artist lounging on a couch with a toy car on the floor—his sexuality receives no mention, and his “offbeat underground” filmmaking and the attempt on his life appear only in the narrative timeline that follows the body of the text. It’s a pleasingly respectful treatment for younger readers that will help to prepare them for Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan’s Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop (2004) a few years down the line. A glossary, notes, references, illustration credits, author’s note and a list of museums where Warhol’s work can be found round out the book. (Biography. 9-12)