Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Alfred Jensen. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966, this untitled work is one of a series of eight screenprints produced by Alfred Jensen. The piece belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies Jensen’s engagement with abstract, grid‑based compositions that integrate visual and intellectual elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of a vivid lattice of squares rendered in yellow, blue, red and black. Around the periphery, handwritten notations resembling mathematical calculations and calendar references appear, suggesting a dual function as both visual arrangement and coded puzzle linked to alternative day‑counting systems.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the image employs flat areas of color juxtaposed with bold black outlines. Jensen’s characteristic use of geometric grids is combined with hand‑drawn numeric annotations, merging mechanical reproduction with a personal, calligraphic touch.
History & Provenance
The print was produced as part of an eight‑piece portfolio released in the mid‑1960s, a period when Jensen explored the intersection of abstraction and systematic notation. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition shortly after its creation, remaining in the institution’s print and drawing department.
Context
Jensen’s work aligns with mid‑century movements that emphasized non‑representational abstraction informed by mathematical and symbolic systems. The integration of numeric scribbles reflects contemporary interests in merging art with scientific and calendrical concepts, situating the piece within broader trends of “concrete” abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alfred Julio Jensen (11 December 1903 – 4 April 1981) was an abstract painter. His paintings are often characterized by grids of brightly colored triangles, circles or squares, painted in thick impasto. Conveying a…
