Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Esteban Vicente. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1962, this untitled lithograph belongs to a series of six prints by Spanish‑American abstract painter Esteban Vicente. Executed on a modestly sized sheet of paper, the work presents an assemblage of interlocking forms and a varied palette, characteristic of Vicente’s interest in compositional balance and visual rhythm.
Subject & Meaning
The image does not depict recognizable objects; instead, it relies on geometric shapes and color juxtapositions to generate a sense of movement and tension. The abstraction invites viewers to consider the interplay of line, plane, and hue as autonomous elements, reflecting Vicente’s ongoing exploration of visual language beyond figurative representation.
Technique & Style
Produced through lithography, the print was made by drawing directly onto a limestone or metal plate with a greasy medium, then treating the surface so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. Vicente’s handling of the medium yields crisp edges and subtle tonal variations, allowing the layered shapes to emerge with clarity despite the limited scale.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the lithograph entered the artist’s limited edition portfolio of six distinct prints. The series was later acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the permanent collection, documenting a period of Vicente’s engagement with printmaking during the early 1960s.
Context
The early 1960s marked a phase in which many abstract painters turned to print media to experiment with color and form on a more economical scale. Vicente’s lithographs align with this broader trend, offering insight into his adaptation of abstract expressionist concerns to the reproducible format of lithography.
Artist & collection
Artist
Esteban Vicente Pérez was a Spanish American painter born in Turégano, Spain. He was one of the first generation of New York School abstract expressionists. He identified as an antifascist.
