Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Federico Castellon. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1939, this untitled lithograph by Federico Castellón is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The print presents a compact scene that merges everyday figures with an uncanny atmosphere, inviting viewers to contemplate a moment suspended in a timeless landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a woman draped in a scarf, seated and gazing forward, while a young boy lies prone nearby, his eyes directed downward. Between them a donkey, its head bowed, is tethered by a chain that disappears into emptiness. A uniform row of modest houses recedes into the horizon beneath a muted sky, suggesting a setting that feels both familiar and detached.
Technique & Style
Castellón employs the lithographic process to balance broad, flat planes with sharply defined shadows, producing a space that feels both flattened and three‑dimensional. The stark contrasts and simplified forms generate a surreal, dream‑like quality, while the repetitive architecture and the dangling chain reinforce a sense of stagnation and unresolved narrative.
History & Provenance
The work was executed in the late 1930s, a period marked by political upheaval and artistic experimentation in Europe and the United States. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains catalogued as an untitled lithograph, reflecting the artist’s interest in ambiguous, open‑ended titles.
Artist & collection
Artist
Federico Castellón was a Spanish-American painter, sculptor, printmaker, and illustrator.
