John Gould and Peter Wise

Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987)

John Gould and Peter Wise

ca. 1980

Silver gelatin print

2008.17.122

Jon Gould was one of Warhol’s few great loves. When they met in 1980, Gould was a Paramount Pictures executive and only 27 years old. Friends described him as a man living two lives, one by himself in Los Angeles, the other in New York with Warhol, and with two personas, straight or gay, awkward or possessing an undeniable swagger, depending on the circumstances. Warhol’s diary references Gould repeatedly, including his excited anticipation of dates and his tangible bleakness when their plans fell through. He desperately sought to impress Gould by changing his clothing and physical appearance and treating him to glamorous parties at Studio 54.

The photograph on the right shows Gould in conversation with Peter Wise, a photo archivist and Warhol’s friend and colleague. The shot captures an unfettered moment of connection, Gould through Warhol’s eyes. Unabashedly in love and a consummate observer, Warhol took photographs of Gould at every chance. He is the most photographed subject in Warhol’s entire body of work.

Gift of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts

© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.