Man’s Best Friend

The complete set of 10 screen-prints in black and white
Medium: Screen-print in black and white on Saunders Waterford High White paper
Year: 2016
Size: 35×23 inches (88.9 x 58.4 cm)
Edition: 100
Artist’s Proofs: 20
Publisher: Pace Editions Inc., New-York

Each signed, dated and numbered in pencil

 

Man’s Best Friend is set of 10 black and white screenprints which playfully depict Snoopy, an American Beagle and companion to Charlie Brown in the comic strip Peanuts created by Charles Schulz. However, KAWS’ Snoopy has been playfully renamed by the artist, now known as “Joe KAWS.” From 1950 until his death in 2005, Schulz’s beloved characters appeared in international and national newspapers every day, deeply rooting themselves in generations of globally diverse viewers.

“I’m into Schulz as an artist, a company, and an icon; I got into his stuff just because I liked the looseness of the line work, and I thought that it was just sort of a nice thing to bring into my paintings, even if it’s abstract and unidentifiable.” 

By extracting minimalist, detailed crops of Charlie Brown, KAWS has left just a hint of the persona being portrayed, yet even with just a dissociated portion the viewer is able to immediately recognize this iconic canine.

“I found it weird how infused a cartoon could become in people’s lives; the impact it could have, compared to regular politics.” 

KAWS’ simplistic yet bold images playfully and inventively rework quintessential cartoon imagery while touching on the viewer’s personal, childhood relationship to the ensemble of friendly cartoon faces.

Man’s Best Friend #1

Man’s Best Friend #2

Man’s Best Friend #3

Man’s Best Friend #4

Man’s Best Friend #5

 

 

 

 

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Auction Results

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1. Single Prints

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Heritage Auctions: 30 November 2023
USD 4,687

KAWS
MBF: Man’s Best Friend VI, 2016
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 41/100 in pencil along lower edge

2. Complete Sets

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Heritage Auctions: 25 July 2023
USD 40,000

KAWS
Man’s Best Friend (10 works), 2016
Screenprints in colors on Saunders Waterford paper
Each signed, dated and numbered 39/100 in pencil along lower edge

Phillips New-York: 18 April 2019
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 87,500