Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Barnett Newman. 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 a screenprint executed on a plexiglass substrate. It belongs to a limited series of four prints produced by the artist, and it is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of a single, expansive blue band that dominates the field, bordered on each side by narrow, darker blue lines. The stark simplicity invites viewers to consider how color and minimal form can shape spatial perception and emotional response.
Technique & Style
Newman employed screenprinting—a process that transfers ink through a mesh onto the transparent plexiglass—to achieve a flat, uniform surface. The work aligns with his broader engagement with color‑field concerns, emphasizing large areas of saturated hue and the interplay of light across a smooth plane.
History & Provenance
The print was produced as part of a four‑print portfolio that Newman released in the mid‑1960s. After its creation, the piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view as an example of his printmaking practice.
Context
Emerging from the abstract expressionist movement, Newman’s work often explored how vast expanses of color could affect the viewer’s environment. This print continues that inquiry, using a restrained palette to foreground the relationship between the artwork’s physical material and the surrounding space.
Artist & collection
Artist
Barnett Newman (January 29, 1905 – July 4, 1970) was an American painter. He has been critically regarded as one of the major figures of abstract expressionism, and one of the foremost color field painters. His…
