Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by David in 1984.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Untitled by David (1984) — Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Created in 1984, this lithograph by David Hockney combines two vertically aligned compositions on separate sheets, unified by collage elements. The work belongs to MoMA’s collection and exemplifies Hockney’s interest in layered representation, blending printmaking with hand-applied materials to disrupt flatness and challenge conventional portrait formats.

Subject & Meaning

Two figures occupy the composition: one standing, facing the viewer in a striped shirt, and another seated, legs crossed, rendered with relaxed posture. Neither is identified, emphasizing anonymity. The direct gaze of the upper figure and the introspective stance of the lower suggest a psychological dialogue between presence and stillness, without narrative resolution.

Technique & Style

Hockney employed lithography as a base, then added collage elements and expressive brushwork to introduce texture and spontaneity. Bold outlines contrast with loose, gestural strokes, while vivid, non-naturalistic colors disrupt spatial coherence. The white background amplifies the figures’ isolation, reinforcing the work’s emphasis on form over environment.

History & Provenance

The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional interest in Hockney’s experimental printmaking during the 1980s. Its dual-sheet structure and mixed-media approach align with his broader exploration of fragmentation and perception, a theme prominent in his work from this period.

Context

Made during Hockney’s time in California, the piece reflects his ongoing engagement with portraiture and the human figure, even as he moved away from photorealism. The use of collage and layered mark-making echoes contemporary interests in deconstructing identity, paralleling trends in postmodern art of the early 1980s.

Legacy

This work contributes to Hockney’s redefinition of printmaking as a dynamic, hybrid medium. Its combination of traditional lithography with collage and expressive drawing influenced later artists exploring the boundaries between reproduction and originality, affirming print’s capacity for personal expression beyond mechanical reproduction.