Artworks
Jean-Michel Basquiat USA, 1960-1988
101.6 x 101.6 cm
Piano Lesson features two stylized figures referencing Batman and Robin, rendered in Basquiat’s graphic, skeletal language. One figure stands tall with black mask-like features and radiating linework, while the second wears a red torso marked with an “R,” directly nodding to Robin. Surrounding the figures are schematic diagrams, numerical notations, and fragmented text, creating a visual rhythm that feels instructional yet subversive. The background shifts between pale washes and bold linear interventions.
Released in 2022 within the Estate’s screenprint portfolio, Piano Lesson underscores Basquiat’s engagement with pop culture and mythic heroism. By filtering comic-book imagery through his expressive vocabulary, he repositions cultural icons within a broader conversation about power and identity. For collectors, the recognizable Batman and Robin reference adds a compelling cultural layer, making this edition especially dynamic within the broader print series.
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