KEITH HARING, MEDUSA HEAD, AQUATINT ON HAHNEMÜHLE PAPER, EDITION OF 24, 1986
Medusa Head is a print by Keith Haring from 1986 that shows an image of a hydra-like figure whose tentacles stem from its neck and merge into individual bodies across the image. This is one of the large prints in Haring’s body of work and is typical in his exclusive use of black, rounded lines against a white backdrop.
Haring appropriated the image of the Medusa from mythology and art history, best known for having hair made of snakes but here the image is subverted so that her head is removed and the tentacles morph into human figures. As a powerful symbol that represents a dangerous threat that deters other dangerous threats, an image of evil that repels evil, Haring’s print seems to be a depiction of the chaos of human life that was felt in 1980s New York.
Medusa Head is very large in scale and uses simplified shapes and line to form a clear visual language for the public to understand. Although Haring’s choice of subject matter is dark, his playful linear style makes this print universally appealing. The figures hanging off the ends of the Medusa’s tentacles appear as though dancing, as emphasised by Haring’s use of action lines that convey a sense of positive energy to the viewer.
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ABOUT KEITH HARING
Known for his bold graphic style and playful sense of humour, Keith Haring is one of the most influential and adored artists of the 20th century.
Born in Pennsylvania, in 1958, Haring was a talented draughtsman as a child and developed his cartoonish style at the hands of his father and the work of Walt Disney and Dr Seuss. However it would take some time before he realised he could marry this kind of drawing with being a fine artist. Upon graduating from high school he enrolled in a commercial art school before realising he had little interest in pursuing a career as an illustrator or graphic designer. After dropping out of college he joined the hippie movement and hitchhiked across the country where he made anti-Nixon t-shirts to pay for food and Grateful Dead tickets. Learn more about Keith Haring.
