Anatomy, The Scapula
Anatomy, The Scapula
Signed Print
Jean-Michel Basquiat
£27,000-£40,000Value Indicator
$60,000-$80,000 Value Indicator
$50,000-$70,000 Value Indicator
¥250,000-¥380,000 Value Indicator
€30,000-€50,000 Value Indicator
$270,000-$400,000 Value Indicator
¥5,240,000-¥7,770,000 Value Indicator
$35,000-$50,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
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Screen print, 1982, on Arches 88. Signed and numbered in an edition of 18. S. 76.5 x 56.5 cm (30 1/8 x 22¼ in.).
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2021 | Christie's New York | United States |
Meaning & Analysis
In this print, Basquiat depicts the shoulder blade in soft grey on a solid black background, as is characteristic of the Anatomy series. Leonardo Da Vinci’s anatomical studies and Basquiat's own experience with severe bodily injury are evident in the artist's careful depiction of the human body.
The artist's passionate drawing approach is tempered by a close understanding of the physical reality of his subject matter. The significant negative space which occupies the prints of the Anatomy series offers a stark counterpoint to the maximalist use of colour and shape which defines many of the artist’s most famous works, including Jawbone Of An Ass. An errant line to the left of the drawing of the scapula upsets the print’s clinical aspect and similarity to medical textbooks, and gestures to Basquiat’s tendency to disrupt established modes of representation.
The tissues' brittleness is emphasised by the fact that the drawings are distinctly two-dimensional in nature, with the bones being rendered in a manner that is almost cartoon-like, such is their minimalism.
The fragility of the bodily parts is captured in the drawings through the use of delicate, wiry lines.
Jean-Michel Basquiat's unique visual style has dominated the Urban Art scene, securing his status as one of the most successful African-American street artists of the 20th Century. Addressing themes of race, identity and culture within his expressive works, his distinctive painterly style and use of child-like iconography changed the course of art history forever. Artworks such as Undiscovered Genius place controversial subjects at the forefront of his narrative. Despite his tragically premature death at the age of 27, Basquiat's impact on the art scene is exemplified through the increase of his market value in the years since.
