Artwork

Untitled

Untitled, by Gary Hincks Ian Hamilton Finlay, 1978
Untitled, by Gary Hincks Ian Hamilton Finlay, 1978

Untitled is a print by Gary Hincks Ian Hamilton Finlay. 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 print consists of two oval illustrations rendered on a light-toned offset card. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It is attributed jointly to the British poet‑artist Ian Hamilton Finlay and the photographer Gary Hincks, reflecting a collaborative approach to image making.

Subject & Meaning

The upper oval depicts a small aircraft soaring above a sinuous line that suggests a horizon or water, accompanied by a cluster of diminutive marks. The lower oval presents a sailboat with an elongated mast set against similar undulating lines. The juxtaposition of aerial and nautical motifs invites consideration of movement, travel and the mapping of space.

Technique & Style

Executed as a black‑and‑white offset print, the images rely on fine, sketch‑like lines without colour. The oval framing and the crisp, minimal detailing evoke the aesthetic of vintage cartographic prints or postage stamps, emphasizing precision and a restrained visual vocabulary.

History & Provenance

The piece was produced in the late 1970s, a period when Finlay was expanding his practice beyond poetry into visual collaborations. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s representation of post‑minimal print media.

Context

Finlay’s work frequently engages with the language of maps, diagrams and textual fragments, while Hincks’s photographic sensibility contributes a documentary clarity. This print reflects the broader 1970s interest in interdisciplinary projects that blur the boundaries between literature, visual art and design.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museum of Modern Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.