Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor print by Anne Goldthwaite. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1925, this untitled work by Anne Goldthwaite is an etching enhanced with watercolor washes. The piece is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art and measures a modest size typical of early twentieth‑century printmaking. Its composition combines linear drawing with delicate pigment, resulting in a softly lit scene that balances figure and atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a seated woman cradling a small child on her lap, both clothed in a loosely draped robe. Hovering above them are three diminutive angels, their wings outstretched in a gentle, protective gesture. The arrangement suggests themes of maternal care, spiritual guardianship, and the intimate bond between adult and child within a serene, almost reverent setting.
Technique & Style
Goldthwaite employed traditional intaglio etching to establish the primary outlines, then applied translucent watercolor washes in pale blues, pinks, and grays. The ink lines remain simple yet expressive, while the watercolor adds a luminous quality, especially on the angels' wings and the woman's garment, evoking the effect of light filtering through thin paper.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after being acquired in the mid‑20th century, reflecting the institution’s interest in early American printmakers. Its date, circa 1925, places it within Goldthwaite’s mature period, when she increasingly explored the interplay of print and watercolor to achieve atmospheric effects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anne Goldthwaite was an American painter and printmaker and an advocate of women's rights and equal rights.
