Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Ilya Bolotowsky. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1937, this untitled lithograph belongs to a series of thirty-one prints by Ilya Bolotowsky. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as an example of the artist’s engagement with abstract composition during the late 1930s.
Subject & Meaning
The image consists of stark black forms set against a light field. A tall rectangular shape dominates the center, pierced by an irregular cutout that suggests a doorway or window. Smaller elements—a curved line, a minute circle, and several linear fragments—float around the central figure, creating a sense of imbalance and spatial tension.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the artist drew directly onto a smooth stone surface, applying greasy ink that was later transferred onto paper. The process yields a grainy texture within the black areas, emphasizing the flatness of the medium while maintaining crisp, geometric outlines characteristic of Bolotowsky’s abstract style.
History & Provenance
The print was produced as part of Bolotowsky’s 1937 portfolio, a body of work that explored systematic abstraction. After its creation, the lithograph entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it has remained, providing insight into the artist’s printmaking practice during this period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ilya Bolotowsky was an early 20th-century Russian-American painter in abstract styles in New York City.
