Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Isabel Bishop. It dates from 1943 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1943, this untitled work is one of a series of eight etchings that Isabel Bishop produced for a single portfolio. The print measures among a limited edition of fifty impressions, each bearing the artist’s signature in the lower corner. It reflects Bishop’s ongoing interest in portraying the rhythm of city life during the early 1940s.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary figure seen from behind, clothed in a long coat and hat, standing with a rigid posture that suggests a moment of pause amid a bustling crowd. By focusing on an anonymous passerby, Bishop captures the anonymity and collective movement characteristic of Manhattan’s public spaces, especially those surrounding Union Square where she often worked.
Technique & Style
Executed as an etching, the work relies on swift, loose lines that convey the texture of the coat’s folds and the figure’s outline. The sketch‑like quality of the marks gives the print a sense of immediacy, while the limited tonal range emphasizes form over detail, aligning with Bishop’s graphic approach to urban subjects.
History & Provenance
The print was issued as part of a limited run of fifty copies, each signed by Bishop. It belongs to the body of work that solidified her reputation within the Fourteenth Street School, a group of artists known for their realistic yet observational depictions of everyday New York life during the mid‑twentieth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Isabel Bishop (March 3, 1902 – February 19, 1988) was an American painter and graphic artist.
