Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Hannah Wilke. It dates from 1977 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1977, this screenprint on plexiglass by Hannah Wilke is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It presents a stark black-and-white composition combining textual slogans with a provocative image. The work merges political rhetoric with bodily imagery, characteristic of Wilke’s engagement with feminist discourse through unconventional visual strategies.
Subject & Meaning
The figure, a woman with exposed chest and disheveled attire, holds a sheet of paper while wearing a tie — a juxtaposition of gendered symbols.
The figure, a woman with exposed chest and disheveled attire, holds a sheet of paper while wearing a tie — a juxtaposition of gendered symbols. The phrases 'Marxism and Art' and 'Beware of Fascist Feminism' frame the image, suggesting a critical interrogation of ideological movements. The torn shirt and formal neckwear imply a disruption of expected roles, challenging both patriarchal and dogmatic feminist frameworks.
Technique & Style
Wilke employed screenprinting on plexiglass to achieve sharp contrasts and a glossy, industrial surface. The high-contrast black-and-white palette enhances the graphic immediacy of the text and figure. The choice of plexiglass, rather than paper, introduces a sense of fragility and permanence simultaneously, reinforcing the tension between visibility and vulnerability in the imagery.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1977, the work emerged during a period of intense feminist and political activism in the United States. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection as part of a broader effort to document conceptual and feminist art practices of the 1970s. Its material and format reflect Wilke’s interest in elevating ephemeral, activist imagery into institutional contexts.
Context
Wilke’s work responded to debates within feminist circles about representation, power, and ideological purity. The phrase 'Fascist Feminism' critiques rigid political alignments that suppress individual expression. By placing the female body at the center of a political poster, she subverted traditional propaganda aesthetics, inviting viewers to question how ideology shapes gendered visibility.
Legacy
This piece remains a key example of feminist conceptual art that resists easy categorization. It influenced later artists exploring the intersection of politics, identity, and materiality. Wilke’s use of the body as both subject and medium helped redefine the boundaries of printmaking in feminist discourse, emphasizing ambiguity over didacticism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hannah Wilke (born Arlene Hannah Butter; was an American painter, sculptor, photographer, video artist and performance artist. Her work is known for exploring issues of feminism, sexuality and femininity.
