Andy Warhol, Diamond Dust Shoes

Diamond Dust Shoes (Random) by Andy Warhol is a prime example of commercialization in the pop art area, consistent with the style that Andy Warhol came to perfect. The piece is made up of silkscreened shoes painted with acrylic on a linen background with diamond dust spread over the images. There are fourteen shoes each a different color and slightly different style from the rest, yet despite their differences the shoes have a few things in common. The shoes are all women’s shoes, and they all have the points of the shoes pointed towards the center area of the piece. In between the shoes the image is covered with black and then sprinkled over with diamond dust. The diamond dust also appears in any area of the shoes that is shaded or black. Casual observation of the piece revealed that anytime shoes overlap the area they overlap at becomes straight and strays slightly from the original shape of the shoe. It also appeared that either the shoes were painted over with acrylic after the black background was added or minor improvements to the shape and appearance of the shoe were added after the addition of the black background, due to overlap of paint on closer observation between the shoes and the background. Also, in some instances the brushstroke on the outer edge of the shoes does not match the inside of the shoe indicating that the stroke was added later for more cosmetic circumstances. The shoes appear like photographs in the piece; some shoes have shadows, textures, or even words. All of the diamond dust appears to have been added to the work after the painting, due to the fact that it is visible, and if it was added first it would not appear as well as it does, and because some stray diamond dust appears in areas of the shoes where it should not. The overall affect of the diamond dust on the black background gives the piece a sandpaper like look. Even the wear and tear on the piece lends itself to this idea, because the right side of the painting has less diamond dust than the left. The right side looks streaky or worn down, where some of the linen underneath the black is becoming visible.

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