Jean-Michel BASQUIAT (1960-1988), Glassy Nose (Glassnose)

lithograph, paper 40 x 33 cm (composition), 50 x 35 cm (sheet), numbered in pencil: 278/500, signed from the plate under the composition "JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT", two dry stamps of the publisher.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist who rose to fame in the 1980s as part of the Neo-Expressionist movement. His works are characterized by a crude, gestural style of painting, combining elements of graffiti, street art and primitivism. Basquiat often used symbols and signs in his paintings, which invited viewers to interpret their meaning. Jean-Michel Basquiat died of a heroin overdose on his way to the hospital at the age of 27.
The 1987 composition "Glassnose" is a work in acrylic and oil on canvas The title "Glassnose" is probably a play on words referring to "glasnost," the policy of openness and transparency introduced in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s. The term was symbolic of the political and social changes that were taking place at the time.
Basquiat's work was deeply rooted in his experiences as an African-American and often touched on themes of racism, identity, social inequality and politics. His work is full of references to African-American history, pop culture, classical literature and even the artist's personal experiences.His work was met with great interest from Andy Warhol, which resulted in a friendship and collaboration between the two artists. Basquiat admired Warhol and considered him a mentor, while Warhol found in Basquiat a new passion for painting. Their collaboration was a sign of mutual respect and admiration, and the duo was often seen together at various events in New York. Together they created more than 150 works, which were initially criticized, but over time gained recognition and achieved high prices at auctions. Warhol would begin his work by drawing a pop art symbol or newspaper headline on a canvas using his overhead projector, and then Basquiat would add a symbol, image or words to the painting in his neo-expressionist style. Unfortunately, their relationship suffered a setback when Basquiat began heavy drug use, which eventually led to the end of their collaboration. Nevertheless, they remained friends, although the intensity of their relationship diminished. Warhol's death in 1987 hit Basquiat hard. Basquiat died a year later, but his artistic legacy remains alive and influential. His work continues to be exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and his style and symbolism continue to inspire new generations of artists.