Coca-Cola Girl 25

A woman with blond hair gazes out toward the left in this double portrait. The pale tan and yellow tones of her skin and hair contrast with the solid-red background. Each view of her face is slightly different, suggesting the passage of time. This painting highlights Alex Katz’s interest in pop culture and consumerism. It is part of a larger series of similar works that reference Coca-Cola: The color red evokes the soft drink’s iconic can, while the portrait alludes to the company’s advertising campaigns throughout the 20th century that regularly featured young women as models.