Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by H. C. Westermann. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Five offset lithographs, each measuring a few inches across, constitute H.
About this work
This print set looks like five crisp, black-and-white pages from an old envelope.
This print set looks like five crisp, black-and-white pages from an old envelope. Each page shows a different arrangement of straight lines and simple shapes. It’s almost like a doodle someone traced over again and again.
The prints came out of S.M.S., a 1968 mail-art project that sent small art packs to subscribers. Westermann made these five lithographs for one of those packs. They’re small—just a few inches across.
You can see these exact prints at The Museum of Modern Art.
Overview
Five offset lithographs, each measuring a few inches across, constitute H. C. Westermann’s 1968 work titled Untitled. Created as part of the S.M.S. (Shit Must Stop) mail-art project, the set was distributed to subscribers in compact, envelope-like formats. The prints are held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, where they are presented as a unified group, reflecting the project’s emphasis on accessible, non-monumental art.
Subject & Meaning
The images consist of repetitive, abstract arrangements of straight lines and geometric shapes, evoking the appearance of traced doodles or technical sketches. No explicit subject is depicted; instead, the work invites contemplation of process and repetition. The crude, hand-drawn quality suggests an intimate, almost private act of mark-making, resisting grand narrative in favor of quiet, iterative exploration.
Technique & Style
Produced via offset lithography, the prints maintain a sharp, monochromatic aesthetic with high contrast between black ink and white paper. The precision of the printing process contrasts with the seemingly spontaneous, hand-drawn forms, creating a tension between mechanical reproduction and gestural spontaneity. The small scale and uniform presentation reinforce the project’s DIY ethos.
History & Provenance
Untitled was produced in 1968 for S.M.S., a short-lived but influential mail-art initiative that mailed curated art packets to subscribers. Westermann contributed this set alongside other artists including Duchamp and Oldenburg. The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection as part of its broader documentation of experimental print practices from the late 1960s.
Context
S.M.S. emerged during a period of artist-led challenges to traditional gallery systems, prioritizing direct distribution and affordability. Westermann’s contribution aligned with his broader interest in utilitarian forms and vernacular aesthetics. The work reflects a wider movement toward dematerialization in art, where the object’s physicality was secondary to its conceptual and distributive framework.
Legacy
Though modest in size and appearance, Untitled exemplifies a pivotal moment in postwar printmaking when artists reclaimed control over production and dissemination. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection affirms its role in expanding definitions of what constitutes a work of art, particularly within the context of ephemeral, non-commercial practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Horace Clifford Westermann was an American sculptor and printmaker. His sculptures frequently incorporate traditional carpentry, marquetry techniques, mixed media, and a range of personal, literary, artistic, and pop-cultural references.
