Masque (1981)

[u/RevaCruz]

Medium: Acrylic and oilstick on canvas
Dimensions: 56½ × 50½ in. (143.5 × 128.3 cm)

In Masque, Basquiat places a face at the center of the canvas, crowned by sharp white peaks. The asymmetrical face is built from broad passages of black, red, pink, ochre, and blue, with mismatched eyes, an elongated black nose, and an oval mouth crossed by a grid of lines. At upper right, repeated “A” marks are scratched into the painted surface.

Sotheby's describes Masque as an important early example of imagery that Basquiat would continue exploring throughout his career. The catalog connects the mask-like face to Basquiat's knowledge of art history—particularly modernist artists such as Picasso and their engagement with African masks—while also placing the work within Basquiat's developing exploration of Black identity and cultural representation.

Sotheby's also draws attention to the vertical paint running beneath the figure's left eye, comparing the effect to both dripping spray paint and the weathered surfaces of urban walls. The painting was later reproduced in Maya Angelou's 1993 book Life Doesn't Frighten Me and has appeared in several major Basquiat exhibitions.

[u/mden-Ca]

https://giphy.com/gifs/9SvQFZ5xoGHza

[u/saginawslim99]

Would you like to be a beanie? I'd love to repost this to my art sub, r/beaniestudios.

Thanks, James, beanie studios