USA 19-82 (Littmann P. 17) by Keith Haring is a bold meditation on American identity during the height of the Cold War. The work depicts a ed figure with radiating lines suggesting divine energy or atomic force, flanked by serpentine forms whose gaping mouths reveal rows of sharp teeth. Above this central drama, "USA" and "19-82" frame the work in block letters, anchoring the imagery within a specific temporal and geographical context.

The screenprint emerged during a pivotal year in Haring's career, when the artist was transitioning from his underground subway drawings to gallery recognition whilst maintaining his commitment to accessible public art. 1982 marked Ronald Reagan's military buildup and escalating nuclear rhetoric, circumstances that permeate this work's iconography. The red figure—both a crucified saviour and atomic symbol—embodies the dualities that defined American consciousness during this period: spiritual salvation and technological destruction, protection and annihilation.

Haring demonstrates his skill at reducing political anxieties into immediately comprehensible symbols. The serpents' triangular teeth recall both primitive totemic power and modern industrial machinery, whilst their positioning suggests they are either consuming or being repelled by the central figure. This ambiguity reflects the artist's understanding that American power in 1982 was both protective and predatory, depending on one's vantage point.

USA 19-82 is one of Haring's most politically direct statements from this period. The work's newspaper-like format and bold graphics suggest propaganda whilst critiquing it, demonstrating Keith Haring's ability to operate within and against the visual systems of power that defined 1980s America.

For more information or to buy USA 19-82 by Keith Haring, contact our specialists using the enquiry button above.

View Keith Haring original art for sale, or learn how to sell Keith Haring artwork.