Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Dan Graham in 1970.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Dan Graham , 1970

Untitled is a print by Dan Graham. It dates from 1970 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1970, this work consists of a photostat printed on a rigid board and arranged as a matrix of forty‑nine small squares.

About this work

The notes say things like *"Prototype for NSCAD Lithograph"* and *"Sketch idea: May 1969.

This image is a grid of 49 small squares, each with a single straight line drawn inside. The lines tilt slightly, getting longer as you move down and right. The top-left square has a tiny dot. The whole thing looks like a sketch or study, with handwritten notes in the corners.

The notes say things like *"Prototype for NSCAD Lithograph"* and *"Sketch idea: May 1969."* It’s all very precise but also feels like a draft—like the artist was testing ideas.

If you like this, check out Dan Graham.

Overview

Created in 1970, this work consists of a photostat printed on a rigid board and arranged as a matrix of forty‑nine small squares. Within each cell a single straight line is drawn, its angle and length shifting gradually across the grid. The composition functions as a visual study, marked by handwritten annotations that reference a lithograph prototype and a sketch date from May 1969.

Subject & Meaning

The piece operates as a schematic exploration of line and spatial progression, suggesting a systematic investigation rather than a finished image. The incremental changes in tilt and length across the grid imply a concern with variation and process, while the marginal notes reveal the artist’s intent to develop the design further for print production.

Technique & Style

Executed as a photostat—a reproduction method using photographic copying onto paper—then adhered to board, the work reflects a low‑tech, reproducible aesthetic. The hand‑drawn lines and marginal scribbles contrast with the mechanical reproduction, highlighting a dialogue between analog drawing and mass‑media processes characteristic of the artist’s early practice.

History & Provenance

The work originates from a period when the creator was experimenting with magazine‑based formats that anticipated conceptual art. The annotations indicate its role as a prototype for a lithograph intended for the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). Its date of creation, 1970, places it shortly after the noted sketch in May 1969.

Context

Emerging amid the late 1960s shift toward idea‑driven art, the piece exemplifies an interdisciplinary approach that merges visual production with critical documentation. It aligns with broader investigations into media structures and the reproducibility of images, themes that would later expand into photography, video, and installation within the artist’s oeuvre.