Andy Warhol's 'Empire' Turns 60: Why It's a Masterpiece

Sixty years ago, on July 25-26, 1964, Andy Warhol premiered his film 'Empire,' shot from the Time&Life Building in New York. This eight-hour piece features a still shot of the Empire State Building, showcasing Warhol's unique approach of presenting reality without any filmmaker's influence. After earlier projects like 'Sleep' with John Giorno and 'Eat' with Robert Indiana, Warhol stripped away editing and voyeuristic components. In 'Empire,' the only constants are the camera's position and the duration of the film, offering a raw perspective. Displayed at 16 frames per second, the shift from day to night is subtle, with the lights fading at 2:42 AM, highlighting Warhol's view that "everything is sort of artificial." This release also coincided with Robert Rauschenberg winning the Golden Lion at the 1964 Venice Biennale, marking a pivotal moment for Pop Art.