Egypt Day and Night #109

This early work by Keith Haring, created in 1978, offers a glimpse into the artist's foundational years, before he became a global sensation for his iconic street art and Pop art imagery. While the piece predates his famous subway chalk drawings, which began in 1980, it already showcases his interest in bold lines and a nascent visual vocabulary. Haring was still a student at the School of Visual Arts in New York when he made this, experimenting with various forms and influences. He had recently been inspired by a lecture from Christo on incorporating the public into art, and had explored the work of artists like Jean Dubuffet and Pierre Alechinsky, who encouraged him to create large images with characters and writing. The title, "Egypt Day and Night #109," suggests an exploration of ancient themes, perhaps filtered through a modern lens, rendered in watercolor and gouache. This medium choice highlights a more traditional artistic approach compared to the spray paint and markers he would later embrace, yet the expressive quality hints at the energetic style to come.