The sitter Mildred Scheel was born in December 1931 and died in May 1985. She is most well-known for founding German Cancer Aid in 1974 and for her marriage to Walter Scheel (former President of Federal Republic of Germany). Sheer was elected ‘Woman Of The Year’ in Germany for three consecutive years from 1977-9. Scheel and Warhol were long-time friends and in 1980 Warhol published a series of these screen-prints of Mildred in order to raise funds for German Cancer Aid. Scheel devoted her life to philanthropic work fighting against cancer, but sadly lost her life to the disease in 1985.

Mildred Scheel, released in 1980, is a screenprint with diamond dust created to raise funds for the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V.), an organization Mildred Scheel founded. The print is a vibrant, stylized portrait based on a Polaroid photograph Warhol took of Dr. Scheel. It utilizes Warhol’s signature Pop Art style with bold, flat areas of unconventional color—such as blues, purples, and yellows—layered over the photographic image. A notable feature is the application of diamond dust, which adds a unique textural, reflective, and glittering quality to the surface, lending a touch of glamour often associated with his celebrity subjects. The composition exists in different color variations and as a diptych (two panels) in some rare artist’s proofs.

1. Mildred Scheel (F&S II.238)

The portrait was commissioned and published by the Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V. in Cologne, Germany, in 1980. The edition size was large, with 1,000 numbered prints (plus Artist’s Proofs), making the artwork accessible to a broader audience for the purpose of fundraising. This project highlights Warhol’s engagement with humanitarian causes and his ability to use his fame and artistic methods to support philanthropy.

2. Mildred Scheel (F&S II.239)

The double portrait edition of Mildred Scheel was never made into a full edition, only the 50 artist proof editions were produced. Both prints are layered with different blocks of colour and are outlined with diamond dust.

The print serves as a tribute to Dr. Mildred Scheel (wife of former German President Walter Scheel), a respected physician who devoted her life to the fight against cancer and founded the German Cancer Aid organization. By portraying her in the same style as his iconic celebrity subjects (like Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor), Warhol elevates her status from a political figure and physician to a cultural icon. The portrait bridges the gap between high art and commercial/charitable causes, using the language of mass media and celebrity to draw attention to an important social issue—cancer awareness and research. The vibrant colors and diamond dust, while seemingly glamorous, also reflect the “vibrancy that reflects the life and energy of its subject” and metaphorically allude to the enduring and precious nature of her contributions.

 

 

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Mildred Scheel (F&S II.238)

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Mildred Scheel

Medium: Screenprint with diamond dust on Arches 88 paper
Year: 1980
Sheet: 30 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches (77.5 x 54.6 cm)
Edition: 1,000
Hors Commerce: 5 HC
Printer: Rupert Jasen Smith, New-York
Publisher: Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., Cologne, Germany
Literature: Feldman & Schellmann II.238

Published to raise funds for the German Cancer Society

Signed and numbered in pencil lower right
The prints are also signed in felt-pen by Mildred Scheel, the president of the German Cancer Society

Auction results

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Lempertz Cologne: 4 December 2025
Estimated: EUR 4,000 – 6,000
EUR 7,560 / USD 8,765

ANDY WARHOL
Mildred Scheel (Feldman, Jörg Schellmann no. II.238), 1980
Color screenprint with diamond dust on card
Signed and numbered
Artist’s copyright stamp verso
Proof 422/1000 (+5 H.C.)
Edition Krebshilfe e.V., Cologne
CONDIITION NOTE: Minor traces of age

Wright: 3 April 2025
Estimated: USD 10,000 – 15,000
USD 8,890

Phillips London: 23 January 2025
Estimated: GBP 3,000 – 5,000
GBP 13,970 / USD 17,255

Van Ham Cologne: 21 November 2024
Estimated: EUR 2,500 – 3,500
EUR 5,940 / USD 6,275

ANDY WARHOL (1928 Pittsburgh, PA/USA – 1987 New York)
Mildred Scheel, 1980
Color silkscreen with diamond dust on laid card
Signed (Warhol) and numbered 376/1000
Publisher: Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., Cologne (publisher)

Van Ham Cologne: 7 October 2024
Estimated: EUR 4,000 – 6,000
EUR 5,280 / USD 5,885

ANDY WARHOL (1928 Pittsburgh, PA/USA – 1987 New York)
Mildred Scheel, 1980
Color silkscreen with diamond dust on laid card
Signed and numbered 553/1000
As well as signed and inscribed by Mildred Scheel.
Publisher: Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., Cologne (publisher)

Van Ham Cologne: 21 September 2023
Estimated: EUR 3,000 – 5,000
EUR 6,600 / USD 7,085

ANDY WARHOL (1928 Pittsburgh, PA/USA – 1987 New York)
Mildred Scheel, 1980
Color silkscreen with diamond dust on laid card
Signed (Warhol and Scheel) and numbered 533/1000
Publisher: Deutsche Krebshilfe e.V., Cologne (publisher)

 

 

 

 

 

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Chiswick Auction: 12 February 2025
Estimated: GBP 7,000 – 10,000
GBP 8,190 / USD 10,190

ANDY WARHOL (AMERICAN 1928-1987)
Mildred Scheel [Feldman & Schellmann II.239], 1980
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Arches wove
Signed and inscribed AP 11/50 in pencil

Wright: 18 December 2024
Estimated: USD 12,000 – 15,000
USD 12,600

ANDY WARHOL (1928–1987)
Mildred Scheel (Feldman/Schellmann II.239), 1980
Screenprint in colors with diamond dust on Arches 88
Signed and numbered ‘AP 29/50 Andy Warhol’ with artist’s copyright stamp to verso
This work is artist’s proof 29 of 50

K Auction Seoul: 26 July 2023
Estimated: KRW 15,000,000 – 25,000,000
KRW 19,550,000 / USD 15,345
TRIAL PROOF

ANDY WARHOL (1928–1987)
Mildred Scheel (Feldman/Schellmann II.239), 1980
Screenprint with diamond dust
Signed and numbered ‘TP 9/15′ on the lower right

LA Modern: 26 April 2023
Estimated: USD 12,000 – 15,000
USD 16,380