Piano Lesson
from  Superhero Portfolio

Medium: Screen-print in colors on 425 gm Saunders Waterford paper
Year: 1987/2022
Size: 40×40 inches (101.6 x 101.6 cm)
Edition: 85
Artist’s Proofs: 20 AP
Publisher: Flatiron Editions, New-York

Signed and dated in pencil by Lisane Basquiat and Jeanine Heriveaux (the artist’s sisters and administrators of the Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat) on a stamped Certificate of Authenticity on the reverse.

“I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too Abstract Expressionist…really messy.
I’d never win painting contests.
I remember losing to a guy who did a perfect Spider-Man.”

A striking example from Jean-Michel Basquiat’s celebrated oeuvre, Piano Lesson (1982-87/2022) is a screenprint reproduction of the 1983 canvas of the same title. It depicts longtime comic superheroes Batman and Robin standing opposite each other. Characterized by a vibrant color palette and an intensely drawn surface, the present lot showcases the two cartoon characters surrounded by the artist’s signature anatomical drawing. Throughout his artistic career, Basquiat frequently combined images from childhood popular culture with his own real and imagined experiences to address sociopolitical issues concerning race, identity and mortality. A remarkable example of the complexity distinctive of Basquiat’s iconic style, Piano Lesson recalls the intensely worked painterly surface of the artist’s 1983 Flash in Naples. For instance, the intricate grid that characterizes Batman’s suit is repeated in the gridded background present in Flash in Naples, showcasing Basquiat’s multi-layered artistic practice.

Piano Lesson is part of the Superhero Portfolio – an edition comprising four screenprints of Basquiat’s original canvases featuring the artist’s personal heroes and idols. Taking inspiration from popular comic characters and symbols, Basquiat depicts Batman, Robin, and Flash alongside his iconic gestural marks and text. The series evokes a childlike spontaneity, while simultaneously showcasing a distinct awareness and command over composition. Combining bold colors and expressive brushwork, this portfolio exemplifies the unique style for which Basquiat is famed, while also symbolizing the artist’s status as one of the most significant artists of his generation.

Auction Results