Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Anatomy is his first portfolio of prints, encapsulating key themes that define his early work. Created shortly after his debut solo exhibition at the Annina Nosei Gallery in March 1982, the series took shape in the basement studio Nosei provided for him.
Anatomy reflects Basquiat’s deep fascination with the human form and language. Beginning in early 1981, he produced hundreds of drawings and paintings featuring skulls and skeletons. Art historian Gianni Mercurio traces this interest back to a pivotal childhood event, noting that Basquiat’s mother gifted him a copy of Gray’s Anatomy while he was hospitalized after being struck by a car at age seven (Gianni Mercurio, “The Moon King,” in The Jean-Michel Basquiat Show, p. 25). This book became a lasting source of inspiration, shaping his exploration of anatomical imagery.
The portfolio highlights Basquiat’s technical focus on the human body, depicting skulls, femurs, elbows, scapulae, and pelvises in stark white lines against a black background, reminiscent of an X-ray. Each body part is labeled as in a medical textbook, emphasizing his engagement with the intersection of language and visual representation. Art critic Richard Marshall observes that Basquiat’s use of words and symbols acts as a coded system, concealing deeper themes related to political, social, and racial issues (Richard Marshall, quoted in Taka Kawachi, ed., King for a Decade: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Tokyo 1997, p. 73). The fragmented bodies and cryptic inscriptions invite viewers to decipher their meanings, revealing hidden layers within his work.
For more information on jEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT PRINTS FOR SALE and to BUY JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT PAINTINGS contact info@guyhepner.com for our latest availabilities.
