Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Bruce Nauman. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1968, this offset lithograph by Bruce Nauman presents a stark, black‑and‑white schematic that resembles a hand‑written instruction sheet.
Created in 1968, this offset lithograph by Bruce Nauman presents a stark, black‑and‑white schematic that resembles a hand‑written instruction sheet. The image is composed of terse directives for operating an analog tape recorder, accompanied by a simple diagram of a tape loop. The work’s visual language merges textual directives with rudimentary line drawings, evoking the aesthetic of utilitarian manuals.
Subject & Meaning
The piece foregrounds the mechanics of sound recording through a series of fragmented commands—phrases such as “Set the tape recorder” and “Use a bottle to keep tension.” By reducing a technical process to graphic form, Nauman invites contemplation of the everyday rituals embedded in media technology, highlighting the tension between precise instruction and the informal, hurried hand that records it.
Technique & Style
Executed as an offset lithograph, the work reproduces the texture of cheap, perforated paper and the irregularity of handwritten script. The lithographic process captures the faint grid pattern along the margins and the dotted lines typical of mass‑produced manuals, preserving the immediacy of the original notes while situating them within a fine‑art context.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the lithograph has entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is catalogued among Nauman’s early print works. The acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in the artist’s interdisciplinary practice, which spans sculpture, photography, neon, video, drawing, performance, and printmaking.
Context
Produced during a period when Nauman was expanding his practice beyond traditional media, the work aligns with his broader investigations into language, instruction, and the body’s interaction with technology. The 1960s saw a surge of conceptual art that employed everyday objects and procedural texts, situating this lithograph within that critical discourse.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bruce Nauman (born December 6, 1941) is an American artist. His practice spans a broad range of media including sculpture, photography, neon, video, drawing, printmaking, and performance. Nauman lives near Galisteo, New Mexico.
