Jawbone of an Ass
Medium: Screen-print in colors on Saunders Hot Press watercolor paper
Year: 1982/2004
Sheet: 42 1/2 x 60 inches (108 x 152.4 cm)
Edition: 85
Artist’s Proofs: 15 AP
Publisher: David DeSanctis Contemporary Art, Inc., Los Angeles
Each screen-print bears the signature of Gerard Basquiat, Administrator of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat on verso, as well as the stamps of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat and DeSanctis Carr Fine Art.
Jawbone of an Ass, dated 1982. is a great example of Basquiat’s complex history paintings. This composition links Ancient Egypt, Cleopatra, Hannibal and the Punic Wars along with literary tradition to Creole culture, and slavery. The artist put this design together in mixed media, using acrylics, oil sticks and paper collages which he arranged together on a canvas. As is typical of his work, he would then sign and date the piece on the wooden frame supports that lied behind the canvas.
Jawbone of an Ass, 1982
Acrylic, oilsticks, and paper collages on canvas
152.5 x 213.5 cm
In the early 1980s the artist was really starting to achieve success and fame whilst still working hard to try out new ideas within his established style. He already had generated a successful set of symbols which he would re-use across multiple artworks, including his skulls and the crowns which we see regularly across his work. He would explain the meaning of each of these during his own lifetime, but they were flexible enough to change their message when used in different contexts. Most new to his career can enjoy his accessible style without even being aware of the true meanings of some of his symbolism and abstract forms. The title specifically refers to a Christian passage, where Samson would claim to have slain a thousand men purely with the use of the jawbone of an ass, thanks to the incredible strength that he held. Basquiat was knowledgeable around religious topics and would use them as inspiration for his work from time to time which was relatively unusual for this period of art history, and much more common during earlier art movements such as the Italian and Northern Renaissance.
Auction Results
Christie’s New-York: 14 March 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 50,400
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Jawbone of an Ass, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screenprint in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 24⁄85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse
Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 57,150 / USD 69,517
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960 – 1988)
Jawbone of an Ass, from Portfolio II, 2004
Screen-print in colors on Saunders Hot Press watercolour paper
Numbered in pencil 26/85 and with the stamped Certificate of Authenticity signed in pencil and dated verso by Gerard Basquiat, the executor of the Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate
Sotheby’s London: 17 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 40,320
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT
Jawbone of an Ass, 2004
Screen-print in colors
Numbered from the edition of 85
With the Estate stamp verso, signed in pencil and dated by Gerard Basquiat
Christie’s New-York: 23 October 2019
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 60,000
AFTER JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)
Jawbone of an Ass, 2004
Screen-print in colors on Saunders paper
Numbered 54/85 (there were also fifteen artist’s proofs)
With Gerard Basquiat’s signature in pencil, the artist’s estate stamps and dated ‘10.19.04’ on the reverse