Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by David Weinrib. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Unlike the screenprints and lithographs in the set, this piece relies on the fine line quality of etching, offering a contrast in texture and technique.
Untitled is a 1967 etching by David Weinrib, part of a larger portfolio of 17 printed works. Unlike the screenprints and lithographs in the set, this piece relies on the fine line quality of etching, offering a contrast in texture and technique. It resides in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, where it contributes to a broader exploration of geometric abstraction in postwar American printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a stylized numeral nine, rendered as a composition of three distinct, flat color zones: a red upper loop, a diagonal orange-to-yellow stroke, and a green lower curve. The form is simplified to its essential structure, with no shading or detail. The numeral functions less as a symbol of quantity and more as a formal element, emphasizing shape, color relationships, and spatial division.
Technique & Style
While most works in the portfolio use screenprinting for its bold, uniform color fields, this piece employs etching—a method that produces finer, incised lines. The color is applied in solid, unmodulated blocks, consistent with the portfolio’s overall aesthetic. Sharp edges and minimal detail reflect a deliberate move toward graphic clarity, aligning with contemporary interests in industrial precision and visual economy.
History & Provenance
Created in 1967, the work was included in a limited portfolio of prints produced by Weinrib, combining screenprints, lithographs, and one etching. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, likely as part of the museum’s active acquisition of experimental print portfolios from the 1960s. Its inclusion reflects institutional interest in the intersection of design, repetition, and abstraction in print media.
Context
This work emerged during a period when American artists were redefining printmaking beyond traditional reproduction. Weinrib’s portfolio responded to the rise of Pop Art and Op Art, using standardized forms and industrial color schemes to question the uniqueness of the art object. The use of a single numeral across multiple prints invited comparison and variation, positioning the number as both subject and structure.
Legacy
Weinrib’s portfolio, including this etching, contributed to a broader dialogue on seriality and minimalism in print. Though not widely exhibited today, it remains a quiet example of how artists in the late 1960s used print media to explore repetition, color theory, and the dematerialization of form. Its presence in MoMA’s collection anchors it within a significant moment in American print history.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Weinrib (1924–2016) was an American artist most renowned for sculpture and ceramic art.
