Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Elizabeth Peyton. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies Peyton’s interest in intimate, figurative representation.
Created in 1998, this untitled lithograph by Elizabeth Peyton presents a portrait rendered in muted earth tones. The composition places a solitary woman in the foreground, her figure defined by a striped dress and dark jacket, while a vague, shadowy presence recedes behind her. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies Peyton’s interest in intimate, figurative representation.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure appears poised, holding an unseen object in one hand, suggesting a moment of private contemplation. The indistinct background figure adds a sense of depth and perhaps an implied narrative of memory or relationship, inviting viewers to consider the tension between presence and absence within the portrait.
Technique & Style
Peyton employed a lithographic process enhanced with pearlescent dust, a material that catches light and introduces a subtle sheen across the surface. This additive creates a textured, almost sketch‑like quality, allowing the browns and grays to shift in tone as the viewer moves, while occasional white highlights punctuate the composition.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the late 1990s, a period when Peyton was expanding her practice beyond painting into print media. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s representation of contemporary American printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elizabeth Joy Peyton is an American contemporary artist working primarily in painting, drawing, and printmaking.
