The artwork titled “Untitled (Plaid)”, created by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982, is a figurative piece rendered in crayon on paper. It is associated with the Neo-Expressionism and Street Art movements and measures 49.8 x 39.4 cm. This piece is housed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork features a repetitive use of the word “PLAID,” interspersed with scribbles, phrases, and symbols. These elements are scattered across the paper, creating a sense of chaotic energy characteristic of Basquiat’s work. The text includes words and phrases such as “CRIMAN” (potentially a misspelling or play on “criminal”), “LARD,” and “TRAIN TRACKS BUILT BY MEN OF CHINA FOR CHUMP CHANGE OF 1850.” There are also representations of a crown, a ladder, and references to economic values like “FIVE CENT” and “TWO CENT,” alongside suggestive and provocative terms and annotations such as “PROSTITUTE” and “SON OF A BUSINESS MAN PLAYING CROQUET FOR NICK AND BEANS.” The overall composition reflects Basquiat’s signature style of integrating text and imagery to comment on social issues, identity, and history.
