Jean-Michel Basquiat

Mary Boone Gallery, New York
Private Collection, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above circa 1987

This work is in very good condition overall. The sheet is hinged on the reverse to the backing board in multiple places. The top and bottom edges of the sheet are deckled. There is evidence of light handling to the sheet with a few soft creases and some stray medium, which largely appears to be inherent to the artist's working method and studio environment. Under very close inspection, there is a very fine 1/2-inch tear in the lower left of the sheet 7 inches from the left and 6 inches from the bottom. There a small area of minor oil residue visible on the surface in the center left of the composition due to medium on the reverse of the sheet. Framed under Plexiglas.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

“Basquiat comes across here as an omnivorous listener, a connoisseur of sounds of all kinds—blues and jazz, radio jingles and news reports—and of words as things in themselves, or at least as images.”

(Roberta Smith, “Review: Jean-Michel Basquiat’s ‘Unknown Notebooks’ at the Brooklyn Museum,” New York Times, April 2, 2015, p. 21)