Untitled (Subway Drawing / Mitsubishi Advertisement)
Drawing / Mixed Media on Newspaper • Keith Haring
Style & Movement
Pop Art / Street Art / Neo-Expressionism
Medium & Technique
Black marker (felt-tip pen) over offset lithograph printed newsprint. The technique involves quick, fluid line work characteristic of spontaneous graffiti tags.
Creation Period
Circa 1988 (referenced by the Daily News print date of September 23, 1988)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 15 x 11 inches (Standard tabloid newsprint size); Landscape format.
Subject Description
A quick gestural drawing of Haring's iconic 'Radiant Baby' or crawling figure, executed over a full-page newspaper advertisement for Mitsubishi and various car dealerships. The drawing interacts with the commercial text, a hallmark of Haring's subversive street practice.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good. Common for ephemeral newspaper works.
Estimated Market Value
$15,000 - $25,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$10,000 - $20,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired via 'street find' or direct gift during the artist's active period in New York City. The 1988 date aligns with Haring's late-career output before his death in 1990.
Art Historical Significance
Haring's works on found ephemeral materials such as subway posters and newspapers represent his commitment to democratic art-making. This piece captures the intersection of high art and 1980s NYC urban consumerism.
Notable Features
Includes the Daily News date line at the bottom ('Friday, September 23, 1988'). Features Haring's distinct signature tag 'K. Haring' integrated into the lower right of the drawing.
Condition Issues
Significant yellowing (oxidation) of newsprint, edge fraying, vertical and horizontal creasing, and minor acid-burn spotting. Newsprint is inherently unstable and brittle.
Conservation Recommendations
Requires de-acidification treatment by a paper conservator and mounting using reversible archival hinges. Must be framed under UV-filtering Museum Glass to prevent further darkening of the paper and fading of the marker ink.