Keith Haring‘s Untitled (Red and Black Woodcut) from 1983 is a big, busy, and bold example of the artist’s graphic talents that propelled him to great success and made him a poster-child for the modern world of art. Big is not just a figure of speech when it comes to this hand-painted woodcut print that measures over four feet tall and nearly three feet wide; all the better for Haring’s large ideas.

Untitled (Red and Black Woodcut) is a loud, frenzied explosion of color and chaos, pulsing with the energy of scattered lightning bolts, each line crackling with a bright, electric intensity that illuminates the canvas like a burst of red-hot flames. Although Haring was renowned for using rich symbolism in his visual narratives, this work showcases his affinity for creating ambiguity and inviting the audience to decipher meaning and establish connections. Two gender-neutral figures are captured in a moment that appears as if they have collided, becoming intertwined with each other, and possibly suggesting Haring’s interest in movement or the persistent theme of connection seen in his works.

The print is characterized by overwhelming abstraction, but two apparent symbols stand out in the piece: the “X”, which Haring typically used to represent “the other”; and gestural lines around the head that he often used to imply enlightenment. What is particularly intriguing is that both symbols are present on only one of the figures, while the other figure is frozen in a state of upside-down.

As a piece of his larger body of work, Untitled (Red and Black Woodcut) is a unique demonstration of commercial art in a more sustainable form due to the incorporation of natural materials. Overall, Untitled (Red and Black Woodcut) evokes the visceral sensation of watching a shocking collision between strangers, solidifying Haring’s unparalleled expertise at conveying movement and narrative with minimalistic lines and intentional use of color.