By AMY CARRINGTON, Art Specialist, Aspire Art
On display as part of the Aspire Art Gallery’s Modern & Contemporary Art Live Auction in Cape Town, American artist Andy Warhol’s electrifying portrait of Albert Einstein is a vivid reminder of the artist’s ability to meld the realms of pop culture and historical significance. This piece is part of the Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century series, celebrating luminaries who have not only shaped modern thought but have also left an indelible mark on culture and society. Warhol’s choice to portray Einstein reflects a deep respect for intellectual achievement and highlights the crucial role that Jewish figures play in world history. Through this work, visitors will witness how art intersects with history, encouraging a dialogue on legacy and identity in the Jewish community.
A Unique Opportunity for Collectors
Limited to just 200 editions, Aspire Gallery’s piece (signed and numbered 190) is expected to attract significant interest, with an estimated value of R 1,400,000 – R1,800,000. The market for Warhol’s work continues to grow, as evidenced by a recent auction in New York where a similar piece fetched an impressive 127,000 USD.
Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century
In the late 1970s, having immortalised figures like Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger, and Mao Zedong, Warhol’s fascination with fame, identity, and repetition was well established. Yet, as the decade waned, he set his sights on a different kind of iconography.
In 1979, at the suggestion of his friend and gallerist Ronald Feldman, Warhol turned his lens toward a new pantheon of luminaries. The result was Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century, a striking portfolio featuring visionaries from politics, music, philosophy, and science – individuals who had left an indelible mark on history. Never one to shy away from irreverence, Warhol nicknamed the project Jewish Geniuses.
The series featured Albert Einstein’s wild halo of hair, Sigmund Freud’s penetrating gaze, Sarah Bernhardt’s dramatic poise, and the manic wit of the Marx Brothers. Rendered in Warhol’s signature silkscreened aesthetic, the portraits shimmered with bold contrasts and fractured lines, as if the subjects themselves were caught in the flicker of a television screen.
Culminating in an exhibition in 1980 at the Jewish Museum in New York, the series – limited to just 200 editions – captivated audiences.
Einstein, a revolutionary thinker who reshaped humanity’s understanding of time and space, was an ideal subject for Warhol’s exploration of cultural immortality. His theory of relativity altered the face of modern physics, yet his impact extended far beyond academia – he became a symbol of intellectual curiosity, pacifism, and humanitarianism. His playful, eccentric persona, captured in candid images with unkempt hair and a mischievous smile, made him one of the most recognisable figures of the 20th century.
The Cape Town auction takes place on 12 March 2025.
The Einstein portrait can be viewed at the Aspire Art Gallery, 37A Somerset Road, De Waterkant, at these times:
• Friday, 7 March, 09:00-16:00
• Saturday, 8 March, 09:00-14:00
• Monday, 10 March, and Tuesday, 11 March, 09:00-16:00
• Digital Magazine Format is available here: March 2025 issue
• Advertise in the Cape Jewish Chronicle and on this website. Contact Lynette Roodt on 021 464 6736 or email advertising@ctjc.co.za. For more information and advertising rate card click here.
• Sign up for our newsletter and never miss another issue.
• Subscribe – simply email us at subscriptions@ctjc.co.za. The Cape Jewish Chronicle, in Print and Digital, is available to those who have subscribed. We offer voluntary subscription options of R450 per year or R37.50 per month via debit order. For payment info click here.
• Jewish organisations in Cape Town – Visit our Portal to the Jewish Community.
• Follow the Cape Jewish Chronicle: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
