Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Chris Burden in 1974.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Untitled by Chris Burden (1974) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Created in 1974, this lithograph by American artist Chris Burden presents a stark white field punctuated by blue handwritten notes at the top and a close‑up black‑and‑white photograph of two hands grasping a small object. The composition juxtaposes informal text with a tightly framed image, inviting viewers to consider the everyday details recorded in a personal manner.

Subject & Meaning

The handwritten line reads, “Chris—took bus to work. Can not do nails. Could not sleep,” suggesting a moment of fatigue and routine. Below, the photograph of hands holding a tiny item—perhaps a coin or ring—emphasizes the tactile focus on mundane objects, echoing Burden’s broader interest in the physicality of daily life and the limits of personal endurance.

Technique & Style

Executed as a lithograph, the work combines hand‑drawn text with a photographic transfer, a method that allows precise rendering of both script and image. The blue ink contrasts sharply with the white ground, while the photographic element retains a grainy, high‑contrast quality typical of black‑and‑white film, reinforcing the work’s raw, documentary feel.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Burden’s early career, a period marked by his provocative performance pieces such as the 1971 work Shoot. It entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 1970s avant‑garde printmaking.

Context

In the early 1970s Burden’s practice expanded from performance to objects and prints, using each medium to interrogate institutional structures and bodily limits. This lithograph reflects that transition, employing a personal note and a close‑up image to foreground the artist’s own experience within a broader critique of work, labor, and physical constraint.