Keith Haring (1958 - 1990)
Title : Portrait of Joseph Beuys (s.9137) -
Medium: Original screen print on natural canvas, 1986, signed and dated by the artist in black felt-tip pen.
Size: The full sheet, 790 x 603mm (31 1/8 x 23 ¾ in)
Published by: Galerie Bernd Kluser and Editions Schellman, Munich & New York
Reference: Littman page 61
Note: This was issued in a portfolio of 28 prints in mixed media, one object and one record, by 30 different artists. It was made for Joseph Beuys after his death in 1986. Bernd Klüser and Jörg Schellmann - who had worked with Beuys on exhibitions, books, and editions since 1969 - jointly published the portfolio to honour this outstanding artist who had been of crucial artistic and personal influence to both partners. Invited to participate in this project were artists who had set a mark in the recent years and whom Bernd Klüser or Jörg Schellmann had worked with on shows or editions.
Joseph Beuys (1921 - 1986) was a German Flexus, happening and performance artist as well as a painter, sculptor, medalist and graphic artist. His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy. it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social sculpture as a gesamtkustwerk , for which he claimed a creative, participatory role in shaping society and politics. He is regarded by many as one of the most important 20th century artists.
