Warhol’s idea for creating the Mao portraits was inspired and heralded by his long-time dealer and supporter Bruno Bischofberger. It was Bruno that suggested that Andy return to the medium of painting by featuring portraits of the most public and important figures of the 20th century. At the time, Mao had already risen to become the most famous man in the world. His images were available everywhere in China and because most of the images resembled a silkscreen, Warhol was immediately fascinated by the idea of reproducing them. Since Mao was a public figure whose face and appearance was acknowledged and respected by the public as a protagonist of public interest and because his cold war movement had also become an issue of public interest as well and this, Mao easily became a subject matter of Andy’s work.
Warhol’s first ever political pieces
While Warhol’s initial works mainly focused on the persistent consumerism of American society, Mao’s portraits can be said to be Warhol’s first-ever political pieces. Warhol created the 10 portraits that constitute the Mao series of portraits as not only a way to openly state his political views, but also as a way of commenting on the controlled propaganda machine of Chinese communism at the time. The mass ideology known as Maoism8, as well as Mao’s cult-like following in China, is what is said to have instantaneously attracted Warhol to Mao.
Warhols choice of Mao as a subject was from a neutral (i.e. suggested to him by someone else) to "impressed at the spectacle" type of position. Mao himself perhaps would have seen the portraits as a mockery. I doubt Warhol would have. His work generally celebrated it's subject matter, albeit in his own unique way.
For example, his paintings of Campbells soup cans came from a desire to have people reflect on advertising art as high culture.
As to whether or not the art came with the house, I cannot say. He may have said that. Whether or not it's true is something else.
It is. It goes to show you that the right wing loves to paint everyone they don't like as a pedophile.
Here's a pic I found from another thread on reddit.
https://i.redd.it/dlddfdsy4eb61.png
The Mao pic is also a famous Warhol picture that was made to mock him.
Also the place was apparently rented and not owned by Ford.
So here we go, some awesome disinfo mixed with smearjob.
I don't think this is accurate.
https://publicdelivery.org/andy-warhols-mao/
Warhols choice of Mao as a subject was from a neutral (i.e. suggested to him by someone else) to "impressed at the spectacle" type of position. Mao himself perhaps would have seen the portraits as a mockery. I doubt Warhol would have. His work generally celebrated it's subject matter, albeit in his own unique way.
For example, his paintings of Campbells soup cans came from a desire to have people reflect on advertising art as high culture.
As to whether or not the art came with the house, I cannot say. He may have said that. Whether or not it's true is something else.
Either way, the pedophile art is 100% made up, and having a Warhol piece is nothing to be ashamed of, especially if he doesn't actually own it.