Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Elizabeth Murray. It dates from 1992 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Elizabeth Murray’s 1992 lithograph, untitled, is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work presents a vertical, irregular structure rendered in thick black outlines that suggest a precarious building. Within the forms, washes of blue, green and yellow create a hazy, almost atmospheric effect, while red streaks and splatters radiate outward, adding a sense of movement.
Subject & Meaning
The composition evokes an urban landscape shrouded in mist, with the jagged silhouette hinting at a skyscraper or tower caught in a fog. The juxtaposition of solid black frames and fluid, colorful interiors suggests a tension between structure and chaos, inviting viewers to contemplate the instability of built environments and the energy that surrounds them.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, Murray transferred ink onto a prepared stone or metal plate, allowing for crisp, precise lines alongside softer, slightly diffused color fields. This method produces the sharp black contours that define the forms, while the overlapping washes retain a subtle blur, reflecting the medium’s capacity for both control and spontaneity.
History & Provenance
The untitled lithograph was produced in 1992 and subsequently acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display. Its inclusion in MoMA’s holdings underscores Murray’s engagement with printmaking during the early 1990s, a period marked by her exploration of bold graphic gestures and layered color.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elizabeth Murray was an American painter, printmaker and draughtsman. Her works are in many major public collections, including those of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the…
