Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Franz Gertsch. It dates from 1972 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1972, this lithograph is one of a series of ten prints produced by Swiss artist Franz Gertsch. Executed in a photorealistic manner, the work portrays a solitary woman seated at a table, surrounded by domestic objects such as a teapot, cups and a bottle. The composition conveys a quiet, introspective mood, emphasizing the ordinary details of everyday life.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman with shoulder‑length hair, dressed in a dark sweater, her gaze turned toward the left where a coat hangs on the wall. The surrounding items—a teapot, cups, and a liquor bottle—suggest a moment of pause or contemplation, inviting viewers to consider the private, unremarked moments that compose daily routine.
Technique & Style
Gertsch employed lithographic processes to achieve a high degree of realism, reproducing fine textures such as the folds of the sweater and the reflective surfaces of the ceramic and glass objects. The print demonstrates his characteristic precision, translating photographic detail into a hand‑crafted medium while preserving subtle tonal variations.
History & Provenance
The lithograph belongs to a limited portfolio of ten works issued by Gertsch in the early 1970s, a period when he expanded his practice from painting to printmaking. It entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of post‑war European print art.
Context
During the early 1970s, Gertsch’s work aligned with the broader photorealist movement, which sought to bridge photography and fine art. By focusing on intimate, domestic scenes, he contrasted the movement’s more common urban or industrial subjects, offering a nuanced view of personal space within the era’s visual discourse.
Artist & collection
Artist
Franz Gertsch (8 March 1930 – 21 December 2022) was a Swiss painter and printmaker who was known for his large format photorealistic portraits and detailed studies of nature.
