Dog [print], 1986/1987

Keith Haring often used animals in his art to convey emotional and social messages, and the dog was one of his favored symbols. While Haring’s dogs usually represent dynamic, playful and loyal characters, the barking dog – first conceptualised in his early Subway Drawings – is often depicted as an alert or aggressive figure, symbolising emotional expression and the artist’s vocal activism around social justice, human rights, and the AIDS crisis. Fascinated by the idea of creating modern day hieroglyphs that could easily be understood by all, Keith Haring drew inspiration from many different cultures, including ancient Egypt. The large, standing dog he created for Edition Schellmann – once as a plywood multiple and once as a lithograph – is reminiscent of Anubis, the ancient Egyptian god of death and the afterlife, who was part canine. Inside the outlines of Haring's creature is a rich tapestry of smaller scenes comically representing sex, violence, control and chaos.