Flowers first appeared as a theme in 1964 with an exhibition of paintings on the subject at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City. The image comes from a photograph of hibiscus flowers by Patricia Caulfield included in the book Modern Photography: the appropriated image was transferred to silkscreens. A small-scale 23 inch color lithograph was produced and used as a poster image for the 1964 show, and about 300 were signed and dated. In 1968 a colour wool & silk tapestry was made with 20 examples, about 7 feet square.

Based on the success of his silkscreen portfolios Marilyn, 1967 and Campbell’s Soup, 1968 & Campbell’s Soup II, 1969, Warhol set about to create the portfolio of Flowers, 1970 [ F&S II.64-73 ]. Ten colour combinations were made based on the Caulfield photograph, and two of the 10 prints played with the registration by rotating the screen 90 degrees.

This unique two-sided print, retained by Andy Warhol and later by the Foundation after his death, was likely a test-proof used to determine colour combinations, and illustrates both the use of vibrant colour (recto) and off-registration screen rotation (verso).

This print was among the last group certified by the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board prior to dissolution and has its own certificate and registration number (125.122).