The entire frame of history of this piece alone, could deliver enough material to lay bare, in a Hans Haacke kind of way, the food chain and stratification of an art history since the beginning of the 1980s. The irony is of course, both that the subject and motif of the piece is addressing digestion (of language) as such, and the humble collage was sort of undermining the whole meaning of such a critical approach by the time of its execution. Marking the beginning of Basquiats transformation (like digestion) from enigmatic street artist Samo, to full fledged international fame via Bruno Bischofberger, Dokumenta, Gagosian, Whitney Biennal etc., this piece is true history. This work by Jean-Michel Basquiat highlights some of his most famous signatures: the skull, the anatomical references, the use of found objects (wood) as a canvas. It was previously owned by Rene Ricard, author of the Artforum article „The Radiant Child“ that helped kickstart Jean-Michel Basquiat’s career. It is included in his catalogue raisonné and has been exhibited both in Europe and Asia. Please find more information below: JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Signed and dated on verso Acrylic and xerox collage on wood 76 x 40,5 cm (30 x 16 in.) BIBLIOGRAPHY Richard D. Marshall, Jean-Louis Prat. Jean-Michel Basquiat. Paris, Galerie Enrico Navarra. 1996, vol. I, p.29. EXHIBITION CATALOGUE New York, Vrej Baghoomian Inc., Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1989, No. 4 Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts; Taichung, Taichung Museum. Jean-Michel Basquiat. 1997, p. 11 Seoul, Gallery Hyundai. Jean-Michel Basquiat, 1997, p. 11. EXHIBITED Paris, Galerie Enrico Navarra. Jean-Michel Basquiat. 1996 Tokyo, Mitsukoshi Museum; Marugame, M.I.M.O.C.A. Jean-Michel Basquiat. 1997 In terms of provenance it passed through some of the biggest names that were handling pieces by JMB: René Ricard, New York Baron/Boisanté Editions, New York Galerie Enrico Navarro, Paris Robert Miller Gallery, New York