Barking Dog

This bold image is one of Keith Haring's most recognizable creations, the "Barking Dog." With its thick black outlines and simple shapes set against a bright red background, it captures the playful, cartoon-like style that made Haring a star in the 1980s art world. He started out drawing in New York City subways with chalk, and his quick, energetic lines carried over into everything he made. The dog here looks almost like it could leap off the wall and start moving.

Don't let the simple look fool you, though. Haring often used his cheerful figures to talk about serious things. The barking dog appeared again and again in his work, sometimes standing in for power, control, or the way people in charge can boss others around. This piece comes from his "Icons" series, made in 1990, the same year he died. By then his symbols had become a kind of personal language, instantly readable and full of meaning. The dog reminds us that art does not need to be complicated to leave a strong impression.