Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by André Thomkins. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The work resides in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, reflecting its significance within postwar printmaking practices.
Created in 1976 by Swiss artist André Thomkins, this print is a soft ground etching enhanced with a roulette tool. The technique produces a textured, uneven surface that mimics the spontaneity of sketching. Thomkins, known for blending visual art with literary play, used this method to capture raw, immediate forms. The work resides in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, reflecting its significance within postwar printmaking practices.
Subject & Meaning
Two fragmented figures dominate the composition: a distorted face with exaggerated ears and a vacant gaze, and a loosely drawn, stick-like body. Neither figure is clearly defined, suggesting ambiguity rather than narrative. The haphazard lines and scribbled annotations in the margins imply an internal, almost private dialogue. The imagery evokes psychological unease, aligning with Thomkins’ interest in surreal and absurdist modes of expression.
Technique & Style
Thomkins employed soft ground etching, pressing paper onto a wax-coated plate to transfer the texture of drawn lines. A roulette tool added stippled, irregular marks to the background, enhancing the sense of agitation. The resulting image has a smudged, tactile quality, as if the drawing had been hastily captured. The roughness of the lines and the absence of refinement reflect a deliberate rejection of polished aesthetics in favor of immediacy.
History & Provenance
Thomkins produced this work during a period of active engagement with experimental art circles in Europe. He had recently taught at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and was associated with Eat Art practitioners like Dieter Roth. The print entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, likely through acquisition focused on emerging European printmakers who challenged traditional boundaries between art forms.
Context
Emerging from the legacy of Dada and Surrealism, Thomkins’ work intersected with conceptual and performative trends of the 1970s. His interest in language—particularly palindromes—infused his visual practice with textual playfulness. This print reflects a broader movement among European artists to merge literary experimentation with visual media, prioritizing process and intuition over finished composition.
Legacy
Thomkins’ use of unconventional print techniques influenced later generations of artists exploring the limits of drawing and reproduction. His integration of literary devices into visual form expanded the possibilities of printmaking as a medium for conceptual inquiry. While not widely exhibited, this work remains a quiet example of how personal, idiosyncratic mark-making can carry broader artistic significance.
Artist & collection
Artist
André Thomkins (Lucerne, 11 August 1930 - Berlin, 8 November 1985) was a Swiss painter, illustrator, and poet.
