Jean-Michel Basquiat - "In italian" (1983)

Author: Jean Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Title: "In italian" (1983)
Size: 36 x 28 cm
Offset print made on 230g, high-quality paper. Displays a vivid and sharp image quality.
Copyright: Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York. Printed in Uk.
New to frame
Shipping flat in a rigid envelope via certified express mail.
It is possible to collect more than one object, from the same auction, in the same shipment.

This work belongs to Basquiat’s mature period, when he fully developed his signature style combining text, symbols, and raw, expressive figures. In In Italian, he incorporates handwritten words—often in multiple languages—alongside gestural imagery. The composition may seem chaotic, but it reflects his deep engagement with history, identity, and cultural references, blending high and low culture in a unique visual language.

In 1983, Basquiat was at the peak of his career and began collaborating with Andy Warhol. He had a habit of adding foreign words—like Italian—not necessarily for their exact meaning, but because he was drawn to their sound and visual impact. Friends recalled that he would sometimes choose words simply because they “looked right” on the canvas.