Head of Young Man (Dale) 1998 [W/P]

This work, typical of the sketchy monochrome sprayed heads Arkley produced in his later years, was previously listed in this catalogue as ‘Untitled head (#2) (1998) [W/P], on the basis of a photograph (without annotations) held in the artist’s archives: see comparative photo below.

However, information supplied by the owner in July-August 2023 indicates not only the additional details listed here, but also demonstrates that the archive photo showed the work in an earlier state, prior to the addition of several sprayed elements, and the pencilled signature and date at lower left. It is also clear from this new information that the work was not one of the heads exhibited at Metro 5 gallery in February 2002 (see Untitled heads [1-10] 1998 [W/P]), as suggested in my earlier entry. Many thanks to the owner, and to Fiona Hayward and Damien Hackett of Deutscher and Hackett, for providing details and current photographs, and arranging a viewing (July-August 2023).

The owner, who acquired the drawing during a visit to Arkley’s studio arranged by a mutual friend, recalls the artist saying the work was from his ‘poet portrait series’ and showed Rimbaud – French poet Arthur Rimbaud (1854-91), noted for his transgressive ideas, prefiguring Surrealism. Also relevant here may be the erased words faintly visible below the pencilled verso title, as noted above. These details suggest that the work may have been related to other 1990s heads, notably Mask for Baudelaire (1994) [W/P], and Untitled (‘Head 1’) 1998 [W/P], possibly a portrait of William Burroughs. Nevertheless, the final title inscribed on the verso indicates a different subject (although it is unclear who ‘Dale’ was).

[revised entry, Aug./Nov.2023]

Provenance

• Acquired from the artist in 1998: see above
• Auctioned by Deutscher and Hackett, Sydney, 22 Nov.2023, lot 52: ill., details as shown above; est.$15,000-20,000; not sold

[archive photo reproduced below]