Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Arnulf Rainer. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Arnulf Rainer’s 1966 lithograph, untitled, resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Executed entirely in red ink on a light‑toned paper, the work presents a single, gestural image that emphasizes immediacy and the physical act of drawing. Its modest dimensions and understated signature underscore a focus on the visual gesture rather than narrative content.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a loosely rendered human figure whose head dissolves into a vortex of lines, while a tangled beard and hair cascade outward.
The composition centers on a loosely rendered human figure whose head dissolves into a vortex of lines, while a tangled beard and hair cascade outward. The body is suggested through uneven, rough strokes, and the surrounding space is filled with splatters and wavering marks that evoke a sense of turbulence or emotional agitation. The abstraction leaves interpretation open, inviting viewers to consider the tension between presence and dissolution.
Technique & Style
Created by lithography, Rainer applied red ink directly onto a prepared stone or metal plate, then transferred the image onto paper in a single impression. The exclusive use of red imparts a visceral quality, while the sketch‑like execution—characterized by scribbles, smears, and spontaneous marks—reflects the artist’s interest in gestural abstraction and the materiality of the printing process.
History & Provenance
The lithograph was produced in 1966, a period when Rainer was exploring aggressive, expressive mark‑making across media. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings as part of the institution’s effort to document post‑war European printmaking. The work remains in the museum’s permanent collection, where it is displayed as an example of Rainer’s print practice during the mid‑1960s.
Artist & collection
