Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Henri Rivière. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
This untitled lithograph, created by French artist Henri Rivière in 1890, is one of fifty works in an album. It presents two adjacent street scenes, contrasting urban and somewhat isolated moments of everyday life.
Subject & Meaning
The right scene shows a lone figure walking away under a lamppost, along a path lined with bare trees.
The left scene depicts a man reading a paper near a poster-covered pole advertising *Théâtre Libre*, a venue for innovative plays, amidst bare trees and a distant horse-drawn cart. The right scene shows a lone figure walking away under a lamppost, along a path lined with bare trees. The contrast may reflect Rivière's interest in capturing the mundane and the intersection of modernity (represented by the theater poster) with quieter, possibly more traditional, elements of city life.
Technique & Style
Characterized by loose, sketchy lines and a muted color palette, the lithograph exemplifies Rivière's approach to capturing everyday scenes with a sense of immediacy. The style aligns with post-Impressionist tendencies, emphasizing the artist's interpretation over meticulous detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1890, this lithograph is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection. While specific exhibition history or previous ownership before its acquisition by MoMA is not detailed here, its inclusion in the museum highlights its significance within Rivière's oeuvre and early 20th-century printmaking.
Context
Rivière's work, including this piece, reflects his fascination with both the modern (e.g., the Eiffel Tower in other works) and the regional (often Breton landscapes). This lithograph situates itself within the post-Impressionist movement, capturing the quotidian aspects of late 19th-century urban life.
Legacy
As part of Rivière's body of work, this lithograph contributes to the broader legacy of post-Impressionist printmaking, offering insights into the artist's ability to find beauty in everyday, unremarkable moments of urban existence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henri Rivière (March 11, 1864 – August 24, 1951) was a French artist and designer best known for his creation of a form of shadow play at the Chat Noir cabaret, and for his post-Impressionist illustrations of Breton landscapes and the…
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