How Jean-Michel Basquiat turned art history on its ‘head’

From the anatomical features of Leonardo Da Vinci to the fractured portraits of the modernists, the human head has reigned supreme in art history.

And then… Jean-Michel Basquiat, (1960-88) arrived on the scene, an American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, and the consummate draftsman for a new age.

In this video, we discover how Basquiat revolutionised the genre and captured the manic core of the human condition through his masterwork, ‘Untitled (Head)’ (1982).

Encapsulating the incredible dexterity that defines the very best of the artist’s works, and extraordinary for its use of India ink under the oilstick to lend depth and contrast to the composition, ‘Untitled (Head)’ is a heroic depiction, reflecting the explosive talent and brilliance of its author.

View the original video here.

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