Charles the First is a painting created by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982. The artwork is a tribute to jazz musician Charlie Parker, and it was the basis for rapper Jay-Z's 2010 song "Most Kingz."[1]
Charles the First was executed in 1982, a breakout year in Basquiat's meteoric career.[2] The painting pays homage to jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker, whose nickname was "Bird," a leading figure in the development of bebop.[3] In 1985, Basquiat told The New York Times Magazine: "Since I was seventeen I thought I might be a star. I'd think about all my heroes, Charlie Parker, Jimi Hendrix… I had a romantic feeling about how these people became famous."[4] Similarly, Basquiat struggled with heroin addiction like Parker and died at the age of 27 like Hendrix.[5]
Basquiat's love of bebop fueled his art, said Eleanor Nairne, co-curator of Basquiat: Boom for Real at the Barbican Center in London.[6] Basquiat referenced jazz musicians and recordings in over thirty of his paintings such as Bird on Money (1981), CPRKR (1982), Discography I (1983), Horn Players (1983), Arm and Hammer II (1984), and King Zulu (1986).[7] In 2005, Prestige Records, released the compilation Basquiat Salutes Jazz. Music journalist Tom Terrell wrote in the liner notes: "As Parker's bebop transcended jazz to influence musical and nonmusical pop culture worldwide, so did Basquiat's legacy impact on hip-hop and Euro-pop, Indie film and post-electric Miles jazz. Both men were absolute Zen masters of trans-cultural improvisation."[8]
Author Jordana Moore Saggese states that "the crown motif that pervades Basquiat’s work…is often interpreted as an assertion of the artist’s power." In Charles the First, this crown sits in the upper left corner of the canvas, enclosed in a square above the name "THOR." Saggese also explains that the crown references hierarchies within New York's graffiti movement: "Graffiti writers who admired the work of others would express their respect for a piece by painting a simple, often three-pointed crown next to the work. Accordingly, certain artists were made "kings" (as in king of the whole subway car or king of the wall)."[7] She provides historical context, suggesting that the crown could also refer to the notions of kingship in jazz culture and the crowning of talented performers such as Duke Ellington, Count Bassie, and Nat King Cole.[7] Basquiat's former girlfriend Suzanne Mallouk contends that the crown came from the end credits of Basquiat's favorite cartoon, The Little Rascals, which featured an etched crown above King World Productions.[7] Saggese concluded that "Charles the First not only refers to Thor or King Charles of England, but also connects cartoons, graffiti, and jazz culture and becomes shorthand for a challenge to social, historical, and artistic hierarchies."[7]
In conjunction with the crown, Basquiat wrote on the bottom left of the canvas "MOST YOUNG KINGS GET THEIR HEADS CUT OFF," with the word young crossed out. This phrase inspired rapper Jay-Z's song "Most Kingz."[1] Rapper and Basquiat collector Jay-Z, who owns a print of the painting, interpreted that line in his memoir Decoded as a "statement about what happens when you achieve a certain position. You become a target. People want to take your head, your crown, your title. They want to emasculate you, make you compromise or sacrifice in a way that no man, or woman should."[9]
References
^ abSheehy, Kate (November 20, 2013). "Jay Z snaps up $4.5M Basquiat painting". New York Post. from the original on 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
^Gotthardt, Alexxa (April 1, 2018). "What Makes 1982 Basquiat's Most Valuable Year". Artsy. from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
^Whitehead, Kevin (August 28, 2020). "Charlie Parker, Born 100 Years Ago, Made Jazz Complexities Sound Deceptively Easy". NPR.org. from the original on 2020-08-30. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
^McGuigan, Cathleen (February 10, 1985). "New Art, New Money". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Steel, Rebecca (January 19, 2018). "The Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat: Legacy of a Cultural Icon". Culture Trip. from the original on 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
^Eshun, Ekow (September 22, 2017). "Bowie, Bach and Bebop: How Music Powered Basquiat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-01.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ abcdeSaggese, Jordana Moore (2014-05-30). Reading Basquiat: Exploring Ambivalence in American Art. Univ of California Press. pp. 55, 85. ISBN978-0-520-27624-6.
^McNally, Owen (December 29, 2005). "New Disc Reflects Art and Influences of Basquiat". The Hartford Courant. from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
^Jay-Z (2010-12-07). Decoded. Random House Publishing Group. p. 93. ISBN978-1-58836-959-8.
December 29, 2022
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Charles the First is a painting created by American artist Jean Michel Basquiat in 1982 The artwork is a tribute to jazz musician Charlie Parker and it was the basis for rapper Jay Z s 2010 song Most Kingz 1 Charles the FirstArtistJean Michel BasquiatYear1982MediumAcrylic and oilstick on canvas triptychMovementNeo expressionismDimensions198 cm 158 cm 78 in 62 in Analysis EditCharles the First was executed in 1982 a breakout year in Basquiat s meteoric career 2 The painting pays homage to jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker whose nickname was Bird a leading figure in the development of bebop 3 In 1985 Basquiat told The New York Times Magazine Since I was seventeen I thought I might be a star I d think about all my heroes Charlie Parker Jimi Hendrix I had a romantic feeling about how these people became famous 4 Similarly Basquiat struggled with heroin addiction like Parker and died at the age of 27 like Hendrix 5 Basquiat s love of bebop fueled his art said Eleanor Nairne co curator of Basquiat Boom for Real at the Barbican Center in London 6 Basquiat referenced jazz musicians and recordings in over thirty of his paintings such as Bird on Money 1981 CPRKR 1982 Discography I 1983 Horn Players 1983 Arm and Hammer II 1984 and King Zulu 1986 7 In 2005 Prestige Records released the compilation Basquiat Salutes Jazz Music journalist Tom Terrell wrote in the liner notes As Parker s bebop transcended jazz to influence musical and nonmusical pop culture worldwide so did Basquiat s legacy impact on hip hop and Euro pop Indie film and post electric Miles jazz Both men were absolute Zen masters of trans cultural improvisation 8 Author Jordana Moore Saggese states that the crown motif that pervades Basquiat s work is often interpreted as an assertion of the artist s power In Charles the First this crown sits in the upper left corner of the canvas enclosed in a square above the name THOR Saggese also explains that the crown references hierarchies within New York s graffiti movement Graffiti writers who admired the work of others would express their respect for a piece by painting a simple often three pointed crown next to the work Accordingly certain artists were made kings as in king of the whole subway car or king of the wall 7 She provides historical context suggesting that the crown could also refer to the notions of kingship in jazz culture and the crowning of talented performers such as Duke Ellington Count Bassie and Nat King Cole 7 Basquiat s former girlfriend Suzanne Mallouk contends that the crown came from the end credits of Basquiat s favorite cartoon The Little Rascals which featured an etched crown above King World Productions 7 Saggese concluded that Charles the First not only refers to Thor or King Charles of England but also connects cartoons graffiti and jazz culture and becomes shorthand for a challenge to social historical and artistic hierarchies 7 In conjunction with the crown Basquiat wrote on the bottom left of the canvas MOST YOUNG KINGS GET THEIR HEADS CUT OFF with the word young crossed out This phrase inspired rapper Jay Z s song Most Kingz 1 Rapper and Basquiat collector Jay Z who owns a print of the painting interpreted that line in his memoir Decoded as a statement about what happens when you achieve a certain position You become a target People want to take your head your crown your title They want to emasculate you make you compromise or sacrifice in a way that no man or woman should 9 References Edit a b Sheehy Kate November 20 2013 Jay Z snaps up 4 5M Basquiat painting New York Post Archived from the original on 2013 11 21 Retrieved 2021 02 01 Gotthardt Alexxa April 1 2018 What Makes 1982 Basquiat s Most Valuable Year Artsy Archived from the original on 2020 05 25 Retrieved 2021 02 01 Whitehead Kevin August 28 2020 Charlie Parker Born 100 Years Ago Made Jazz Complexities Sound Deceptively Easy NPR org Archived from the original on 2020 08 30 Retrieved 2021 02 01 McGuigan Cathleen February 10 1985 New Art New Money The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 02 01 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link Steel Rebecca January 19 2018 The Art of Jean Michel Basquiat Legacy of a Cultural Icon Culture Trip Archived from the original on 2014 07 01 Retrieved 2021 02 01 Eshun Ekow September 22 2017 Bowie Bach and Bebop How Music Powered Basquiat The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 02 01 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link a b c d e Saggese Jordana Moore 2014 05 30 Reading Basquiat Exploring Ambivalence in American Art Univ of California Press pp 55 85 ISBN 978 0 520 27624 6 McNally Owen December 29 2005 New Disc Reflects Art and Influences of Basquiat The Hartford Courant Archived from the original on 2021 07 08 Retrieved 2021 02 01 Jay Z 2010 12 07 Decoded Random House Publishing Group p 93 ISBN 978 1 58836 959 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles the First 1982 painting amp oldid 1093771083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
