Head and Scapula 1983

Jean-Michel Basquiat made this painting, Head and Scapula, using oil stick and spray paint on canvas. It embodies the raw energy of the 1980s New York art scene. The image presents a crude figure with a skull-like head, floating against a dark blue background, alluding to themes of mortality and identity. Basquiat’s style is characterized by its spontaneous, graffiti-like execution, a direct influence from his early days as a street artist in downtown Manhattan. In the 1980s, the art world was rapidly changing, with a growing interest in art that challenged traditional norms and spoke to the social issues of the time. Basquiat, as a young black artist, became a central figure in this movement, critiquing the art establishment and addressing issues of race, class, and power in his work. To truly understand Basquiat, we can delve into the archives of the New York art scene and the social history of the 1980s. This approach helps us appreciate how deeply art is embedded in the culture and institutions of its time.