Andy Warhol created Marx Brothers 232 in 1980 as part of the portfolio Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century. Chico Marx is at the top of the print with his brother Groucho in the middle and their brother Harpo on the bottom. The Marx brothers were known for their keen sense of comedy, which was successful in films, in vaudeville, and even on Broadway. The brothers starred in thirteen films, five of which were chosen by the American Film Institute to be in their list of the top 100 comedy films of all time. Because all three men died before Warhol created the series, the photo that this print was based off of is a still frame from the 1946 film A Night in Casablanca.
Marx Brothers is another example of Warhol’s fascination with stardom. Chico (1887-1961), Harpo (1888-1964) and Groucho (1890-1977) Marx garnered fame for their comedy acts throughout the early to mid 20th century. They were featured in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures. This kind of fame drew Warhol to them. The series itself has sparked controversy both nationally and internationally.
