The artwork titled “Notary” was created by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1983. Utilizing a combination of acrylic and crayon on canvas, this piece falls under the Neo-Expressionism and Street Art movements. It measures 180.5 by 401.5 centimeters and belongs to the figurative genre. Currently, it resides in a private collection.
The artwork presents a vibrant and multifaceted tableau, characteristic of Basquiat’s distinctive style. It is replete with a chaotic array of imagery, including abstract forms, skeletal figures, and seemingly random textual fragments. The piece is dominated by a bold, skeletal figure with a red and green outline, juxtaposed against a backdrop of vibrant colors and graphically intense symbols. Various inscrutable phrases and numbers, such as “This note is for all debts public + private” and “PLUTO,” are scattered across the canvas, imbuing the artwork with an enigmatic narrative. The juxtaposition of organic and mechanical motifs, combined with fierce brushstrokes and spontaneous patterns, exemplifies Basquiat’s exploration of human anatomy, societal constructs, and personal iconography.
