Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Glen Baxter. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1984, this untitled work consists of a set of five lithographic prints by Glen Baxter. The pieces are part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplify the artist’s engagement with the print medium during the early 1980s.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a figure tipping backward while clutching a large, empty placard that reads “Glen Baxter presents…”. The absurd posture and the unfinished announcement combine humor with a hint of self‑referential commentary, suggesting a playful critique of exhibition culture.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the work features crisp, linear drawing that resembles a sketch. A striped backdrop and a simple wooden floor ground the scene, while the clean contours emphasize the figure’s motion and the starkness of the blank sign.
History & Provenance
After its production in 1984, the series entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary print practices of the period.
Context
Baxter’s prints emerged amid a broader revival of lithography in the 1980s, when artists explored the medium’s capacity for rapid, repeatable imagery. The work’s tongue‑in‑cheek tone aligns with the era’s postmodern interest in parody and institutional critique.
Artist & collection
Artist
Glen Baxter was an English draughtsman and visual artist, noted for his absurdist drawings and an overall effect often resembling literary nonsense.
