Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Emmett Williams. It dates from 1960 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1960, this offset lithograph by Emmett Williams consists of two printed sheets featuring a typewritten poem. Williams, an American artist based in Europe during this period, produced the work as part of his engagement with experimental literary forms. The piece is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, reflecting its significance within postwar visual poetry.
Subject & Meaning
The text presents a poem titled 'CELLAR SONG FOR FIVE VOICES,' structured around the recurring phrase 'bluebirds are flying,' modified slightly across lines.
The text presents a poem titled 'CELLAR SONG FOR FIVE VOICES,' structured around the recurring phrase 'bluebirds are flying,' modified slightly across lines. The repetition evokes a rhythmic, almost musical cadence, while the inclusion of 'extinct' introduces a dissonant note. The contrast between the lively image of birds and the language of disappearance suggests themes of memory, loss, and the fragility of expression.
Technique & Style
The work employs offset lithography to reproduce typewritten text on a light brown background, mimicking the look of a handwritten or typed manuscript. Minor physical imperfections—tears, creases—are preserved, reinforcing the work’s material presence. The typography is uniform yet mechanically imperfect, aligning with concrete poetry’s focus on the visual and physical qualities of language over traditional syntax.
History & Provenance
Williams produced this piece during his time in Europe, where he was active in the Darmstadt circle of concrete poets between 1957 and 1959. He collaborated with artists such as Daniel Spoerri, and this work reflects that interdisciplinary environment. The print entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection as part of its broader effort to document experimental art forms of the mid-20th century.
Context
Emerging from the concrete poetry movement, the work reflects a shift in literary practice toward visual and spatial composition. Influenced by European avant-garde circles, Williams treated text as a sculptural element. The piece aligns with contemporaneous experiments in typography and performance, where the poem’s form was as significant as its semantic content.
Legacy
This print exemplifies how poets in the 1960s expanded the boundaries of literature into the visual realm. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection underscores its role in bridging poetry and graphic art. Though not widely reproduced, it remains a reference point for later artists exploring the materiality of language and the intersection of text and object.
Artist & collection
Artist
Emmett Williams (4 April 1925 – 14 February 2007) was an American poet and visual artist.
