Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Pop art artist Alex Katz. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
His style was different: clean lines, bold colors, and faces that feel both close and distant at the same time.
You see a woman’s face in flat blocks of color—no shading, just sharp edges. Her eyes are half-closed, lips parted like she’s about to speak. The background is a solid, bright blue.
Katz painted this in 1964, when most artists were doing messy, abstract work. His style was different: clean lines, bold colors, and faces that feel both close and distant at the same time. It’s like a snapshot, but with everything simplified.
If you like this, look up *impasto*—the thick, textured brushstrokes Katz used to make his colors pop.
Overview
Untitled is a 1964 oil on canvas painting by Alex Katz, held at The Museum of Modern Art.
Technique & Style
The painting features flat blocks of color with sharp edges, lacking shading. Katz's style is characterized by clean lines and bold colors, simplifying the subject into a snapshot-like representation.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a woman's face with half-closed eyes and parted lips, conveying a sense of intimacy and immediacy while maintaining a level of detachment.
Context
Created in 1964, Untitled diverged from the prevailing abstract expressionist trend, which emphasized textured brushstrokes and messy, non-representational forms.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alex Katz is an American figurative artist known for his paintings, sculptures, and prints.
