Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Eric Fischl. It dates from 1985 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1985, this untitled print by American artist Eric Fischl belongs to a set of five aquatints, several of which incorporate drypoint and roulette techniques. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Its composition features two indistinct figures rendered in muted yellow‑gold tones, their forms softened by the uneven ink distribution characteristic of the medium.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents two closely positioned silhouettes whose outlines blur into one another, suggesting an intimate or ambiguous encounter. The lack of facial detail and the hazy, glowing background invite viewers to focus on the overall mood rather than narrative specifics, echoing Fischl’s interest in the psychological undercurrents of everyday scenes.
Technique & Style
Fischl employed aquatint to achieve broad washes of warm color, allowing the ink to pool irregularly and produce a soft, almost ethereal surface. Drypoint and roulette markings add texture and fine line work, while the thick, smudged strokes obscure precise contours, reinforcing the work’s dreamlike atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The print was produced as part of a limited portfolio of five aquatints, a format Fischl explored during the mid‑1980s. After its creation, the piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains accessible for study and public viewing, reflecting the institution’s commitment to contemporary printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Eric Fischl (born March 9, 1948) is an American painter, sculptor, printmaker, draughtsman and educator. He is known for his paintings depicting American suburbia from the 1970s and 1980s.
