Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Irene Rousseau. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Two jagged black shapes break through the grid—one looks like a wave, the other like a starburst.
This drawing shows a grid of small squares, some filled with black ink, others left blank. Two jagged black shapes break through the grid—one looks like a wave, the other like a starburst. The lines are precise but uneven, like hand-drawn cracks.
The artist signed it "Crescendo" and dated it 1997. The black shapes feel sudden, almost like something breaking through the orderly squares.
Want to learn more? Check out lithography.
Overview
Untitled, a 1997 lithograph by American artist Irene Rousseau, is one of forty works in a portfolio. Characterized by a grid of small squares interspersed with black ink, the piece features two jagged black shapes—a wave-like form and a starburst—that disrupt the orderly arrangement.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of a systematic grid with spontaneous, jagged shapes may symbolize the interplay between structure and spontaneity. The wave and starburst forms, emerging abruptly from the grid, suggest a dynamic rupture or transformation.
Technique & Style
Executed with precise yet uneven lines reminiscent of hand-drawn cracks, the lithograph showcases Rousseau's nuanced command of the medium. The contrast between filled and blank squares, alongside the expressive black shapes, reflects her association with American Abstract Artists.
History & Provenance
Created in 1997, the lithograph is part of The Museum of Modern Art, New York's collection. Rousseau, born in 1941 in Summit, New Jersey, and formerly President Emeritus of American Abstract Artists, has works held in prominent institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Context
As part of a forty-lithograph portfolio, Untitled contributes to a broader exploration of abstract expression and geometric forms within Rousseau's oeuvre, aligning with the artistic dialogues of her time.
Legacy
Rousseau's contributions to American abstract art, including this work, continue to be recognized through their presence in major museum collections, influencing subsequent generations of abstract artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
Irene Rousseau (born 1941 Summit, New Jersey) is an American artist. Her work is included in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Phillips Collection, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and the…
