Rinso

Medium: Screen-print in colors on Saunders paper
Year: 1983/2001
Sheet: 40×40 inches (101.6 x 101.6 cm)
Edition: 85
Artist’s Proofs: 15 AP
Printer’s Proofs: 5 PP
Publisher: David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, Inc., Los Angeles

Numbered in pencil on the front
Signed in pencil on the verso by Gerard Basquiat, Administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, and dated “11.19.01” with the Estate stamp on the verso.

 

Rinso represents Basquiat’s interpretation of the marketing plan developed by this popular1950’s brand of soap from the 50’s. As the artist reminds us with the written words in the bottom right corner, Rinso promised “WHITEWSHING ACTION”. The contoured head in the top right corner looks like the blackface characters of vaudeville variety shows from the same period. Expanding on the issue of race, the work is informed by KINGFISH and SAPHIRE, the names of the two African American stereotypical characters from the 1950’s television series

 

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Auction Results

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AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Untitled (Rinso), 1983-2001
Screenprint in colors on Saunders Watercolor paper
Presumably with Gerard Basquiat’s signature and the artist’s estate stamps on the reverse
(the sheet adhered to the board)
Numbered 1/85
(there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)

Phillips London: 7 June 2017
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 50,000

AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Rinso, 1983/2001
Numbered ‘P.P. 1/5′ in pencil on the front
A printer’s proof, the edition was 85 and 15 artist’s proofs)
Signed and dated ’11-19-01’ by Gerard Basquiat in pencil on a stamped Certificate of Authenticity
(on the reverse)