Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Alexej von Jawlensky. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1920, this lithograph by Alexei Jawlensky presents a solitary nude figure rendered in stark black lines against a light beige field. The composition is minimal, focusing on the seated pose and the subtle curvature of the body, while the figure’s face is turned slightly to the right, offering a calm, neutral expression.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a single human form, seated with the left leg crossed over the right and the left arm resting on the knee. The pose, combined with the restrained facial expression, suggests a contemplative stillness, inviting viewers to consider the quiet presence of the body rather than any narrative action.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the piece relies on bold, expressive lines that delineate the contours of the figure. The contrast between the dark strokes and the pale background emphasizes the simplicity of the composition, allowing the viewer’s attention to remain on the subtle curves and the interplay of line and negative space.
History & Provenance
The lithograph is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It was produced in the early 1920s, a period when Jawlensky was exploring more abstracted, yet still figurative, approaches to printmaking, contributing to the museum’s representation of early twentieth‑century modernist print media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alexej Georgewitsch von Jawlensky (Russian: Алексе́й Гео́ргиевич Явле́нский, romanized: Alekséy Geórgiyevich Yavlénskiy; 13 March 1864 – 15 March 1941), surname also spelt as Yavlensky, was a Russian expressionist painter active in Germany.
