MODERN ART 2
‘Untitled (ELMAR)’ by Jean-Michel Basquiat Set to Make Auction History
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (ELMAR) 1982. Photo: Jean Bourbon. Courtesy Phillips
BY SEAN LEYWES
NEW YORK-NY.,-Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (ELMAR) stands as a monumental testament to the artist’s prowess, a significant piece from his 1982 collection. This masterpiece, currently in the collection of anthropologist Francesco Pellizzi, will go on auction at the Phillips Auction House in New York. It has an estimated value ranging from $40 to $60 million.
Untitled (ELMAR) is a sprawling canvas, nearly eight feet wide, showcasing Basquiat’s unique artistic vision. Rich in symbolism and self-referential imagery, the painting depicts a modern-day Icarus on the brink of descent. He is targeted by an archer releasing two arrows toward him.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: Symbolism and Powerful Imagery
One side of the canvas features a figure reminiscent of a “fallen angel,” with a bird-like shape and a crown of thorns. It symbolizes both a halo and vulnerability. This celestial figure hovers over a vibrant expanse of scribbled waves, resembling a luminous blue sea. The text “ELMAR” grounds the scene, suggesting a narrative akin to the mythical story of Icarus.
In contrast, on the opposite side of the canvas, a radiant archer takes aim, also crowned like his celestial counterpart, shooting two arrows with clear intent. This contrast of the divine and the earthly, the spiritual and the grounded, reveals Basquiat’s exploration of duality within his own persona.
Untitled (ELMAR) has a rich history, having appeared in significant exhibitions. It was in a 1989 exhibition on Pellizzi’s collection at the Hofstra Museum in New York. The painting was also in a commemorative exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of Basquiat’s passing at Gagosian Los Angeles in 1998. Furthermore, it was part of the artist’s retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris in 2018.
With an estimated value of $40 to $60 million, Untitled (ELMAR) is a testament to Basquiat’s creative zenith. This masterpiece will no doubt captivate collectors and enthusiasts alike at the auction. It will also reaffirm Basquiat’s legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Modern Art History Examined Through Five New Installations
Jackson Pollock’s Number 10, 1949 (detail), 1949, is one of the paintings examining modern art history at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. © 2011 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
BOSTON — Five installations focused on the forerunner of Modern art in the 20th century are the major attractions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA). Titled Making Modern in the 20th century, the installations represent moments in the evolution of Modern Art in North America. They follow the progression of modern art from Mexico City to New York and Boston.
Investigating Modern Art History
The installations investigate the development of modern art and modern artists in the Americas. On display are works by Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Georgia O’Keeffe, Max Beckmann, Karl Zerbe Pablo Picasso and several other important artists of the 20th century.
Many of the artists whose works are on display drew influences from different sources, including contemporaries, teachers, rivals, and friends. The cross-fertilization of ideas inspired the 20th-century painters who evolved in their artistic practice.
Kahlo and Her Circle
One of the installations is titled Kahlo and Her Circle: A Close Look at Frida Kahlo’s Dos Mujeres, and her Circle of Family and Friends. It examines how Kahlo and her friends in Mexico City impacted modern art. Another installation is titled Pollock/Picasso: The Artistic Dialogue of Two Titans of Modern Art. The installation brings together works by these famous artists of modern art history. The installation reveals how Picasso laid the foundation for Modern art, and how Pollock extended it.
The Lane Collection: Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Sheeler, Dove located in the central gallery provides insight into five friends in art. Georgia O’Keeffe, Charles Sheeler, Arthur Dove, Marsden Hartley, and Stuart Davis can be described as a gang of five. From the photographer Alfred Stieglitz’s circle, the artists influenced and inspired each other. The influences are obvious in their works on display.
Beckmann in America: Modern Art History
Beckmann in America examines the impact of Max Beckmann and Karl Zerbe on the development of modern art in America. Max Beckmann and Karl Zerbe immigrated to the United States during Hitler’s reign of terror. Max Beckmann and Karl Zerbe had a great impact on Boston Expressionists. Zerbe and their students, including David Aaronson, went on to establish the Fine Art Department at Boston University.
In the Melvin Blake and Frank Purnell gallery is Hofmann and the Next Generation. The installation examines the impact of education on mid-century abstract artists. On display are works by Franz Kline, Robert Motherwell, Helen Frankenthaler, David Smith, David Smith, and Peter Voulkos.
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