Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by General Idea. It dates from 1978 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1978, this untitled work is an offset lithograph produced by the collective known as General Idea. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its composition presents a schematic, monochrome representation of a human figure, dissected and overlaid with textual elements in multiple languages.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a stylized, cut‑away human body rendered in stark black lines, revealing interior sections composed of additional line work and fragments of text. Words such as “Glamour” and the collective’s name appear prominently, while other phrases in English and Italian populate the interior, suggesting a dialogue between anatomy, language and cultural signifiers.
Technique & Style
Executed as an offset lithograph, the work relies on the precise, high‑contrast qualities of the medium. Sharp, geometric lines replace organic curves, giving the figure a diagrammatic, almost scientific appearance. The collage‑like arrangement of multilingual text within the anatomical framework creates a layered visual puzzle that blurs the boundaries between illustration and conceptual art.
History & Provenance
The lithograph was produced by General Idea in the late 1970s, a period marked by the group’s exploration of mass media and identity. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, where it remains on display as an example of the collective’s engagement with print media and visual rhetoric.
Artist & collection
