In this untitled etching from 1989, Keith Haring introduces an evocative scene, deviating from his typical urban-inspired visuals. At the heart of this artwork, a figure with distinctly Fauvist proportions sprints across the canvas. With robust thighs, enlarged feet, pointed elbows, and a relatively small head, he races in one direction, yet curiously, his gaze and countenance are directed oppositely. An arm, seemingly restrained by a cord, is raised and arcs backward. The backdrop for this mysterious sprinter is a landscape both radiant and diverse: a beaming sun occupies the upper right, casting serpentine rays across the paper, while the ground beneath the man’s feet suggests sand dunes, intermittently adorned with delicate shells. Behind the man, a miniature thicket of twigs enhances the natural ambiance, imbuing a timeless coastal atmosphere.

Haring’s venture into etching enabled him to delve into novel mark-making avenues, forging impactful imagery through elementary, emblematic forms. This technique involves engraving designs onto a metal plate, inking it, and subsequently transferring it to paper. Acid application facilitates this meticulous engraving, rendering accurate, tactile visuals. This medium accorded Haring the flexibility to employ unique marks, including cross-hatching and stippling, thus enriching his pieces with texture and layers.

This untitled piece emerges as a result of Haring’s experimentation with etching, culminating in a limited edition of just six prints. Esteemed by aficionados and collectors, these etchings epitomize Haring’s prowess in working across print mediums, refining and honing his concepts, constructing pieces replete with intricacy and profundity, fortifying his esteemed stature in contemporary art’s panorama.