The artwork titled “St. Joe Louis Surrounded Snake,” created by Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982, utilizes acrylic and crayon on canvas. As a piece emblematic of the Neo-Expressionism and Street Art movements, this figurative work measures 101.5 by 101.5 centimeters.
The artwork presents a striking, raw depiction characteristic of Basquiat’s dynamic and expressive style. A central figure, presumably St. Joe Louis, is illustrated with bold, seemingly hurried lines, embodying a sense of intensity and vulnerability. Surrounding this central figure are various loosely sketched faces and forms, contributing to a chaotic and almost frenetic atmosphere. The title phrases “ST. JOE LOUIS” and “SURROUNDED BY SNAKE” are prominently inscribed along the top and bottom of the canvas, respectively. The text, painted in a haphazard, unrefined manner, complements the crude and spontaneous nature of the visual elements. The interplay of simple and complex shapes, combined with deliberate color splashes, reflects the turbulent yet profound narratives often explored in Basquiat’s work.
