Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a paint print by Christian Boltanski. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Christian Boltanski’s 1998 work *Untitled* comprises a portfolio of 264 color xerox prints. The series is part of the artist’s broader practice of using photographic processes to explore memory and representation. The portfolio is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
Each print depicts a single black‑and‑white photograph of a toy monster. The figure stands upright, wearing a spiked helmet that conceals its face, with a scaly torso, a glossy chest plate marked by a raised circular motif, clawed hands, and a curled tail. The stark, clinical rendering invites contemplation of the object’s dual nature as both plaything and uncanny presence.
Technique & Style
Boltanski employed color xerography to reproduce the original photograph, a process that emphasizes the mechanical qualities of reproduction while preserving fine detail. The crispness of the image contrasts with the textured surfaces of the toy, highlighting the tension between the photographed reality and its reproduced form.
History & Provenance
Created in 1998, the portfolio entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its completion, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s holdings of contemporary print media. The work reflects Boltanski’s ongoing interest in seriality and the archival potential of photographic techniques.
Context
*Untitled* belongs to a series of xerox prints that Boltanski produced in the late 1990s, a period marked by his exploration of everyday objects as carriers of memory. The series aligns with his broader conceptual investigations, which often employ found imagery and mass‑production methods to question how personal and collective histories are recorded.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christian Liberté Boltanski (6 September 1944 – 14 July 2021) was a French sculptor, photographer, painter, and film maker. He is best known for his photography installations and contemporary French conceptual style.
