Learning Something New About Andy Warhol

Growing up, I had always thought that Andy Warhol's painting of Mao was an anti-American statement.  This week I learned differently.  Rather, Mr. Warhol's intent was to mock Mao by duplicating a picture for individual profit that all Chinese citizen were required to carry inside their communist notebook.  Besides making a profit on his painting, the makeup painted on the face would have been seen by the Chinese as abhorrent. Warhol painted hundred's of these paintings in varying sizes changing the colors on the face and background.  He painted only three that were fifteen feet in height as the one I have photographed here.