Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by James Brooks. It dates from 1971 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1971, this untitled lithograph is one of ten works that comprise a single portfolio by James Brooks. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s late‑career focus on abstract, gestural compositions rendered through printmaking rather than painting.
Subject & Meaning
The image consists of broad, irregular strokes and amorphous forms in a palette of light blue, dark brown and occasional red accents. The non‑representational shapes suggest a dynamic interplay of color and line, inviting viewers to experience the emotional resonance of the marks rather than to identify any specific subject matter.
Technique & Style
Brooks employed lithography, a planographic process in which a greasy image is drawn on a stone or metal plate, treated with chemicals, and then inked. The method allows for both crisp edges and the textured, spontaneous quality of brushwork, resulting in a print that balances precision with the loose, expressive gestures typical of Abstract Expressionism.
History & Provenance
James Brooks, a noted American Abstract Expressionist painter, muralist, and educator, received the Logan Medal of the Arts earlier in his career. By the early 1970s he was exploring print media, and this lithograph was produced during that period of experimentation. It entered MoMA’s holdings through acquisition shortly after its creation, remaining in the museum’s permanent collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
James David Brooks (October 18, 1906 – March 9, 1992) was an American Abstract Expressionist, muralist, abstract painter, art teacher, and winner of the Logan Medal of the Arts.
