This print is the third plate from Keith Haring’s 1985 Three Lithographs series, known as People Ladder. It depicts two matchstick figures supporting others on their shoulders, creating a triumphant image of unity amidst struggle. Living, working, and socialising in 1980s New York, Haring experienced the impact of AIDS firsthand as a gay man. By day, he covered the city with his iconic chalk figures, while by night, he frequented gay bathhouses, the notorious S&M club The Anvil, and legendary underground venues like the Mudd Club and Club 57.
Three Lithographs is a pivotal work in which Haring addresses the subject of AIDS relatively early in his career, a theme that remains relevant today as the disease continues to persist. Haring recognized the shifting realities of the epidemic, famously stating that "there really can’t be anymore anonymous sex."
Three Lithographs highlights Haring’s unique visual style that would see the artist become a mainstay of private collectors, auction houses, galleries and museums worldwide.