Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Charles Sheeler. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1928, this lithographic print by Charles Sheeler presents a stark, monochrome view of an industrial interior. The composition isolates a segment of a factory wall, rendered in crisp contrasts of black and white, and includes elements such as brickwork, metal piping, and a solitary ladder that ascends within the frame.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a moment of quiet within a manufacturing environment, emphasizing the structural geometry of the space rather than human activity. By focusing on the clean lines of machinery and architecture, the work suggests an appreciation for the aesthetic order found in industrial design, reflecting Sheeler’s interest in the visual qualities of modern production.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece relies on the traditional stone‑based process where greasy ink adheres to a prepared surface, allowing for precise, sharply edged areas of tone. Sheeler’s handling of the medium yields a highly controlled, almost photographic clarity, characteristic of his Precisionist style that favors simplified forms and a limited tonal palette.
History & Provenance
Sheeler produced this print during a period when he was exploring the visual language of factories and machinery, a theme that recurred throughout his career.
Sheeler produced this print during a period when he was exploring the visual language of factories and machinery, a theme that recurred throughout his career. The work belongs to a series that documents the same corner of a plant, indicating a methodical, investigative approach akin to scientific study. It remains part of the artist’s early print output, predating his later ventures into film and large‑scale painting.
Context
The lithograph emerged at a time when American modernism was turning toward industrial subjects, aligning with contemporaneous movements that celebrated the machine age. Sheeler’s background—working in an automobile factory to fund his education—provided direct exposure to the environments he later rendered, positioning the print within a broader dialogue about the intersection of art and industry.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Sheeler (July 16, 1883 – May 7, 1965) was an American artist known for his Precisionist paintings, commercial photography, and the 1921 avant-garde film, Manhatta, which he made in collaboration with Paul Strand.
