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Student Artwork Guide

Five deaths

Andy Warhol, 1963

Name Class Date
Andy Warhol, Five deaths (1963). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Andy Warhol artsdot.com/en/artists/andy-warhol/
Artist’s dates
1928 – 1987
Painted
1963
Medium
Photography
Movement
Pop Art Art made from advertising, comics and packaging, treating supermarket images as worth a gallery wall.
Period
Modern
Influences
Mass media, newspaper clippings
Style
Photographic realism with manipulation
Subject
Car accident scene

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Andy Warhol died in 1987; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2057. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

Five deaths — Andy Warhol Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Five deaths — Andy Warhol

When was this painted?

  1. 1920
  2. 1930
  3. 1940
  4. 1950
  5. 1960
  6. 1970
  7. 1980

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 59 at death.

Painted when the artist was 35. The artist lived to 59. 30 of the 124 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Andy Warhol (1928–1987) ▲ this work, 1963 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1963 Main working years: 1963–1981 Late works: from 1981

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/andy-warhol-five-deaths-8XXNE4-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Bronze #ce7c11

    Catalogued palette

    • #CE7C11
    • #583512
    • #1B0E0B
    • #9A5F13

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Bronze
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Bold How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Vivid Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Andy Warhol over the last twelve months — 73 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 25.6%31,400 visits
    2. 2 France 17.0%20,800 visits
    3. 3 United States of America 5.9%7,200 visits
    4. 4 Germany 3.8%4,600 visits
    5. 5 United Kingdom 3.5%4,300 visits
    6. 6 Japan 2.6%3,200 visits
    7. 7 Ukraine 2.5%3,100 visits
    8. 8 Spain 2.4%2,900 visits
    9. 9 Italy 2.3%2,800 visits
    10. 10 Canada 2.0%2,500 visits
    11. · 63 other countries 32.4%39,800 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Andy Warhol

    1. 1 Marilyn Diptych, 1962 31.7%78,000 visits
    2. 2 Campbell'S Soup Can (tomato) 4.7%11,600 visits
    3. 3 Marilyn, leo castelli gallery, new york, 1964 4.3%10,700 visits
    4. 4 Che Guevara 1.9%4,700 visits
    5. 5 Pat Hearn, 1985 1.8%4,400 visits
    6. 6 Red Race Riot, 1964 1.6%4,000 visits
    7. 7 Gothe, 1982 1.5%3,700 visits
    8. 8 Triple Elvis, 1963 1.5%3,600 visits
    9. 9 Chanel 1.5%3,600 visits
    10. 10 Five deaths, 1963 this painting 1.2%3,000 visits
    11. 11 Mao 1.2%3,000 visits
    12. 12 Marilyn, 1967 1.1%2,800 visits
    13. 13 (Untitled) from Sunset, 1972 1.1%2,800 visits
    14. 14 flowers 1.1%2,800 visits
    15. 15 Flowers 1.1%2,600 visits
    16. 16 Campbell's soup cans, 1962 1.0%2,500 visits
    17. 17 Gold marilyn monroe 0.9%2,300 visits
    18. 18 Zebra 0.9%2,300 visits
    19. 19 The New Spirit (donald Duck) 0.9%2,200 visits
    20. 20 Michael jackson 0.9%2,100 visits

    Together these works take 61.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 408 works by this artist, of which 288 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 10 of them, with 1.2% of that attention (3,000 visits). The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol

    A Haunting Reflection on Modernity: Decoding Andy Warhol’s ‘Five Deaths’

    Andy Warhol's *‘Five Deaths’* (1963) is a stark and unsettling work that embodies the core tenets of Pop Art while simultaneously offering a profound meditation on mortality, media saturation, and societal desensitization. This piece isn’t merely an image; it’s a cultural artifact reflecting a turning point in how tragedy was perceived – and consumed – in mid-20th century America.

    Subject Matter & Visual Language

    The artwork presents a chillingly direct depiction of a car crash, rendered in stark black and white. An overturned vehicle dominates the composition, its crumpled form suggesting violent impact. Figures are present at the scene – one standing near the front of the wreckage, another closer to the rear – but their scale is ambiguous, contributing to a sense of detachment. A bicycle casually leans in the background, an everyday object jarringly juxtaposed with the devastation before it. The photograph’s grainy texture and somewhat flattened perspective heighten the feeling of immediacy and unease. It's not about showing the impact, but the aftermath – the stillness after the chaos.

    Technique & Pop Art Innovation

    Warhol employed silkscreen printing, a technique central to his artistic practice. This method allowed for the mass production of images, mirroring the relentless reproduction of news and imagery in popular media. The repetition inherent in silkscreen isn’t accidental; it underscores Warhol's commentary on how tragedy becomes commonplace through constant exposure. By removing the unique “hand” of the artist, he further distanced the viewer, echoing the emotional detachment fostered by mass communication. This deliberate coldness is a key characteristic of his style.

    Historical Context: The Death and Disaster Series

    *‘Five Deaths’* belongs to Warhol's ‘Death and Disaster’ series, created in response to the graphic images of car crashes, electric chair executions, and race riots that saturated newspapers and television screens in the early 1960s. This was a period marked by increasing anxieties about modernity, technological advancement, and the potential for large-scale catastrophe. Warhol wasn't necessarily judging these events; he was presenting them as raw data – visual information stripped of emotional context. He held a mirror to society, forcing viewers to confront their own complicity in the numbing effect of constant exposure to tragedy.

    Symbolism & Emotional Resonance

    The car itself functions as a potent symbol of American culture – freedom, mobility, and consumerism. Its destruction represents not just physical trauma but also a fracturing of these ideals. The seemingly casual presence of the bicycle hints at the randomness of fate; anyone could be caught in such an event. While devoid of explicit emotional cues, *‘Five Deaths’* evokes feelings of shock, sadness, and a profound sense of alienation. It challenges viewers to consider their own relationship with death and how it is mediated through images.

    Influence & Legacy

    Warhol's work continues to resonate today, influencing artists across various disciplines. His exploration of the boundaries between high art and popular culture paved the way for new forms of artistic expression. *‘Five Deaths’* remains a powerful reminder of the impact of media on our perceptions of reality and the enduring human fascination with mortality.

    Collecting & Interior Design Considerations

    A reproduction of *‘Five Deaths’* can serve as a striking focal point in a contemporary interior, particularly one that embraces minimalist aesthetics or industrial design elements. Its monochromatic palette lends itself to versatile styling options. However, its subject matter demands careful consideration; it's a piece best suited for spaces where thoughtful contemplation is encouraged.

    Ideal for: Modern living rooms, home offices, art studios.

    Pair with: Neutral color schemes, geometric furniture, and abstract sculptures.

    Avoid: Overly ornate or sentimental décor.

    This artwork is not simply a decorative element; it’s an invitation to engage in a critical dialogue about the complexities of modern life.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Andy Warhol

    Born in Pittsburgh, United States of America

    The Industrial Roots of a Visual Language

    Born Andrew Warhola Jr. in 1928 within the industrial landscape of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the man who would become Andy Warhol spent much of his early years shaped by confinement and quiet observation. A childhood bout with Sydenham's chorea, or St. Vitus’ Dance, kept him indoors for long stretches. During these periods, he turned to the imagery provided by his mother: comic books and movie magazines. These were the first seeds of a visual vocabulary that would later embrace the mass-produced. He eventually moved toward formal training at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, earning a degree in Pictorial Design in 1949.

    His arrival in New York City marked a transition from the private world of sketches to the public sphere of commercial illustration. Working for names such as Tiffany & Co., Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar, he mastered the precision required by advertising. This period of professional service instilled in him an understanding of how images are manufactured and distributed. He learned the mechanics of the brand before he ever attempted to deconstruct it.

    The Factory and the Mechanics of Fame

    By the 1960s, his focus shifted from illustrating products to treating the products themselves as subjects. Through the adoption of the silkscreen printing process, he introduced a method that mirrored the repetitive nature of consumer culture. This technique allowed for a detachment from the hand of the artist, favoring a flattened, mechanical aesthetic. His studio, known as The Factory, became a central point for a specific New York social circle. It was a space where musicians, poets, and film personalities gathered, often blurring the lines between their private lives and their public personas.

    His work during these years explored several distinct themes:

    The commodification of everyday objects, such as his 1962 depictions of Campbell’s Soup Cans.

    The construction of celebrity through portraits of figures like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

    The darker side of the American experience, including his series on car crashes and electric chairs.

    This era was not without physical consequence. In 1968, a radical feminist writer named Valerie Solanas entered his Manhattan studio and shot him, leaving him with lasting injuries. This event altered the trajectory of his studio life, moving it toward a more business-oriented enterprise.

    Cinema and the Expanded Image

    Beyond the canvas, Warhol was an active filmmaker who produced over 600 films between 1963 and 1968. Many of these were experimental or static in nature. He utilized long, unblinking takes in works like Sleep and Empire to challenge how an audience consumes moving images. His filmic output often featured his "superstars," a group of personalities from the Factory scene who became part of the cultural fabric of the time.

    His influence reached into the music industry through his management of The Velvet Underground. He even designed the famous banana cover for their debut album, further merging the boundaries between fine art and popular media. By the time of his death in 1987, he had moved through various media—photography, publishing, and television—leaving behind a body of work that interrogated the very nature of what it means to be seen in a media-saturated age.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Five deaths

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/andy-warhol-five-deaths-8XXNE4-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Warhol, Andy. Five deaths. 1963, https://artsdot.com/en/art/andy-warhol-five-deaths-8XXNE4-en/
    APA
    Warhol, Andy (1963). Five deaths [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/andy-warhol-five-deaths-8XXNE4-en/
    Chicago
    Andy Warhol. Five deaths. 1963. https://artsdot.com/en/art/andy-warhol-five-deaths-8XXNE4-en/
    Harvard
    Warhol, Andy (1963) Five deaths. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/andy-warhol-five-deaths-8XXNE4-en/

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
    4. Our catalogue files this work under: car accident, mortality, pop art. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    5. Look back at Marilyn Diptych (1962), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol Part 5 · Look closely

    Art quiz

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. What artistic movement is Andy Warhol most closely associated with?

      • A Impressionism
      • B Pop Art
      • C Abstract Expressionism

    2. 2. The 'Five Deaths' series was directly inspired by what source material?

      • A Classical paintings
      • B Personal photographs
      • C Newspaper clippings of car accidents

    3. 3. What technique did Warhol employ to create multiple versions of 'Five Deaths'?

      • A Oil painting
      • B Watercolor
      • C Silkscreen printing

    4. 4. The stark black and white imagery in 'Five Deaths' contributes to a sense of…

      • A Celebration and joy
      • B Tragedy and desensitization
      • C Peaceful contemplation

    5. 5. What is a key theme explored in Warhol’s 'Five Deaths'?

      • A The beauty of nature
      • B Mortality and the media’s portrayal of tragedy
      • C Religious iconography

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1B · 2C · 3C · 4B · 5B

    Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    Five deaths — Andy Warhol Part 6 · Art quiz

    Questions & Answers

    How old was Andy Warhol when creating "Five deaths" in 1963?

    Andy Warhol made "Five deaths" at the age of 35. The artist was born in 1928 and the work is dated 1963.

    What is the art-historical place of "Five deaths" by Andy Warhol?

    The art-historical classification of "Five deaths" by Andy Warhol is Pop Art, in the Modern period.

    What is "Five deaths" made with, and in which style?

    "Five deaths" is made in photography, in the Pop Art style.