Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by David. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
David Hockney’s 1979 lithograph, simply titled Untitled, is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The work consists of a broad expanse of blue that dominates the field, punctuated by a faint grid of intersecting lines in the lower half and subtle darker strokes that suggest distant hills or waves in the upper region.
Subject & Meaning
The composition offers an abstracted landscape, where the muted blues and loosely rendered forms evoke a sense of atmospheric distance rather than a specific locale. The vague horizon and smudged contours invite viewers to contemplate the interplay between natural terrain and the artist’s gestural mark‑making, emphasizing mood over precise representation.
Technique & Style
Created using traditional lithography, Hockney drew directly onto a flat limestone surface, allowing the greasy medium to repel water and retain ink during printing. This process yields the characteristic unevenness of the lines and the soft, feathered edges of the blue fields, giving the image a slightly blurred, spontaneous quality that contrasts with the rigid grid pattern.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in 1979, a period when Hockney was exploring printmaking alongside his painting and drawing practice. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, where it remains on view as an example of the artist’s engagement with lithographic techniques during the late 1970s.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Hockney (born 9 July 1937) is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer.
