In 1966 Warhol exhibited Cow wallpaper and Silver Clouds at the famous Leo Castelli Gallery in New York. The Cow image was one of the first works on wallpaper that Warhol did, helping to broaden the idea of printing works on nontraditional surfaces. Warhol depicted cows in Day-Glo colors on wallpaper that he installed on the gallery walls, while his pillow-like clouds, were made out of silver balloons, floating above.

The present color version was part of an edition that Warhol created for an exhibition of his work at the Modern Art Pavilion, Seattle Center in 1976–1977. The Cow largely stood to epitomize his borrowing from popular culture in his usual flashiness in color. The present example has been authenticated by the Andy Warhol Art Authentication Board and Estate of Andy Warhol, with their corresponding stamps on the reserve and the unique number given to each authenticated print. The colors of this print are very strong and fresh, which is seldom the case in this early Warhol print.