Untitled (Fishing)
{{Short description|1981 painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat}}
{{Infobox painting
| title = Untitled
| image = Untitled-basquiat-1981.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| other_title_1 =
| artist = Jean-Michel Basquiat
| year = 1981
| medium = Oilstick, acrylic and spray enamel on canvas
| movement = Neo-expressionism
| height_metric = 198.1
| width_metric = 172.7
| height_imperial =
| length_imperial =
| museum = Private collection
| city =
}}
{{italic title|noerror|all=yes}}
Untitled is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1981. The artwork, which depicts a fisherman displaying his catch hanging at the end of a line, sold for $26.4 million at Christie's in November 2012.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=November 15, 2012|title=Records set for Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons|language=en-US|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/records-set-for-jean-michel-basquiat-jeff-koons-1.1145631|access-date=2021-01-08}}
History
Jean-Michel Basquiat painted Untitled in 1981, a pivotal year when he transitioned from street artist into the adulation of the New York art scene. He worked in the basement of Annina Nosei's gallery in SoHo where Untitled was executed. The artwork depicts a fisherman wearing a crown of thorns and a halo of the same nature. He is standing at the center of the canvas proudly displays his catch, a large fish hanging at the end of a fishing rod. His black body reveals a white skeletal figure.
The painting had previously been auctioned in 1988, a few months after Basquiat's death, and sold for $110,000.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=September 19, 2012|title=Basquiat artwork could set new record for artist Nov. 14 at Christie's|url=https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/top-news/art-design/basquiat-artwork-could-set-new-record-for-artist-nov-14-at-christies/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Auction Central News|language=en-US}} Sold by fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier in 2012, it was anticipated to break records before its auction in 2012.{{Cite web|last1=Lindemann|first1=Charlotte|last2=Russeth|first2=Andrew|date=September 18, 2012|title=Today's Catch: Christie's Nabs $20 M. Basquiat for November Sale|url=https://observer.com/2012/09/todays-catch-christies-nabs-20-m-basquiat-for-november-sale/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Observer|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=September 19, 2016|title=Basquiat poised to set record at New York art auction|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/basquiat-poised-set-record-new-york-art-auction-8156350.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=The Independent|language=en}} Loic Gouzer, international specialist of post-war and contemporary art at Christie's said in a statement: "In contrast to most artists, Basquiat created his best paintings at the beginning of his career. Untitled 1981 unites all the elements of energy, freedom and boldness that one looks for in Basquiat. The market has been waiting a long time for a work of this caliber and freshness, therefore we expect it to set a new record for Basquiat, an artist who is in the process of being recognized as a classic of Post-War American Art alongside Warhol, De Kooning and Pollock." The painting lived up to the pre-sale hype, selling for $26.4 million in November 2012.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=November 18, 2012|title=Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Week Totals Record $525 Million|url=https://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/3791-christies-post-war-and-contemporary-art-week-totals-record-525-mi|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=ArtfixDaily|language=en}} The sale exceeded Basquiat's previous record of $20.1 million for another Untitled (1981) sold in June 2012.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=June 27, 2012|title=Basquiat Sells for $20.1 M., a New Auction Record, in London|url=https://observer.com/2012/06/basquiat-sells-for-20-1-m-a-new-auction-record-in-london/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Observer|language=en-US}} That record has since been surpassed by multiple other paintings. His current record high at auction is Untitled (1982), which sold for $110.5 million at Sotheby's in May 2017.{{Cite news|last1=Pogrebin|first1=Robin|last2=Reyburn|first2=Scott|date=May 18, 2017|title=A Basquiat Sells for 'Mind-Blowing' $110.5 Million at Auction|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/arts/jean-michel-basquiat-painting-is-sold-for-110-million-at-auction.html|access-date=2021-01-08|issn=0362-4331}}
Exhibitions
The painting has been exhibited at the following art institutions:
- Jean-Michel Basquiat at Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, October 1992–February 1993; The Menil Collection in Houston, March–May 1993; Des Moines Art Center in Iowa, May–August 1993; Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Alabama, November 1993–January 1994.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), Untitled|url=https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-jean-michel-basquiat-untitled-5621952/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-08|website=Christie's|language=en}}
- Basquiat at Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland, May–September 2010;{{Cite web|title=Jean-Michel Basquiat at Fondation Beyeler|url=https://www.artforum.com/print/previews/201005/jean-michel-basquiat-25525|access-date=2020-09-28|website=www.artforum.com|language=en-US}} Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, October 2010–January 2011.{{Cite web|title=Basquiat|url=https://www.mam.paris.fr/en/expositions/exhibitions-basquiat|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris|language=en}}
See also
References
{{Jean-Michel Basquiat}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Untitled (Fishing)}}
Category:Paintings by Jean-Michel Basquiat