“Pork Sans,” a 1981 drawing by Jean-Michel Basquiat, immediately poses a question with its enigmatic title. Executed in pencil, this medium choice points to a directness, a raw, unvarnished quality that aligns with the Neo-Expressionism and Street art movements Basquiat was then pioneering. One can imagine the stark, unadorned lines of pencil, perhaps sketching figures or symbols with an urgent, almost frenetic energy, characteristic of his bold mark-making. The raw quality of the line would bypass any need for polished finish, delivering an immediate, unfiltered message. The absence implied by “Sans” might manifest visually as fragmented forms or stark empty spaces within the composition, challenging the viewer to mentally complete or question what is left out. This direct approach with pencil would emphasize the spontaneity and immediacy often found in his work, forgoing elaborate technique in favor of raw impact and emotional resonance. A drawing like this, created during Basquiat’s explosive period, suggests a powerful, perhaps confrontational, statement emerging from the simplest of tools, pushing against conventional artistic boundaries. What vision of 'pork' could be so notably absent, and what does that deliberate void reveal on the page?