Untitled 2 (Free South Africa) (Littmann P. 42) by Keith Haring depicts a violent scene of state oppression through the artist's distinctive line.

The work shows a large black figure turning on the white smaller figure and treading on them. Haring's characteristic radiating lines emanate from both figures, suggesting movement and impact whilst intensifying the confrontation.

The piece was produced amid heightened international awareness of apartheid brutality, coinciding with the South African government's declaration of a state of emergency in July 1985. Haring created the work as part of his response to mounting global pressure for divestment from South Africa, with the group of works serving both as artistic statement and fundraising tool for anti-apartheid organisations.

The Free South Africa series marked a decisive point in Haring's political engagement, created alongside his involvement with the Artists Call Against US Intervention in Central America movement.

Unlike his more celebratory public works, these works confront viewers with stark imagery of institutional violence, underscoring his commitment to using his platform for social justice. The works were distributed through galleries and activist networks, with proceeds supporting anti-apartheid causes. The work operates as both historical document and pointed artistic statement. Through its direct depiction of oppression, Untitled 2 (Free South Africa) shows how Haring's accessible style could address serious political subjects of his time.

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