{"product_id":"history-of-the-black-people-jean-michel-basquiat","title":"History of the Black People - Jean-Michel Basquiat","description":"\u003cp\u003eA powerful 1983 triptych by Jean-Michel Basquiat, exploring themes of history, identity, and the African diaspora through raw, expressive mark-making.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistory of the Black People (1983) is a triptych that demonstrates Jean-Michel Basquiat's approach to historical narrative and visual language. The work functions as a collage of cultural references, combining text, symbols, and figures to address themes of African diaspora, slavery, and the commodification of history. Basquiat employs a raw, immediate aesthetic that draws from street art, graffiti, and the traditions of modern expressionism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is divided into three distinct panels, yet it maintains a cohesive visual flow through the use of recurring motifs and a shared palette. The artist incorporates specific references, such as the word 'SICKLE' and mentions of Memphis, to ground the work in the realities of agricultural labour and the American South. The figures are rendered with a skeletal, mask-like quality, a signature element of Basquiat's style that evokes both ancestral memory and the dehumanising effects of historical trauma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eText plays a functional role in the piece, acting as both a visual element and a carrier of meaning. By crossing out certain words, Basquiat draws attention to the act of erasure within historical records. The work does not offer a linear account of events. Instead, it presents a fragmented, multi-layered perspective that invites the viewer to engage with the complexities of the subject matter. The use of oilstick provides a tactile, energetic quality to the lines, contrasting with the flatter areas of acrylic paint. This combination of materials creates a sense of urgency and spontaneity, reflecting the artist's rapid working process. The work remains a significant example of how Basquiat utilised his platform to interrogate power structures and cultural identity through a highly personal and recognisable visual vocabulary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/dialogue-with-the-youth-of-today-detail-martin-kippenberger\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eDialogue with the Youth of Today (detail) - Martin Kippenberger — Martin Kippenberger\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/wood-variation-ii-per-kirkeby\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eWood-Variation II - Per Kirkeby — Per Kirkeby\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jean-Michel Basquiat","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58866062426447,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58866110792015,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58866110824783,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58866110857551,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/History-of-the-Black-People_Poster_CompositorV1_1790164949226.jpg?v=1790165375","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/history-of-the-black-people-jean-michel-basquiat","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}