Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by James Rosenquist. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966 by American artist James Rosenquist, this work is a screenprint that belongs to a larger series comprising seven screenprints, two lithographs, and an offset lithograph. It reflects Rosenquist’s ongoing investigation of visual culture, drawing on his experience in commercial sign painting and his association with the pop art movement.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on a laughing face enclosed within a vivid pink disc, set against a predominantly blue, softly unfocused backdrop. A faint suggestion of an arm appears on the left edge, while the inscription “WACO, TEXAS” near the bottom anchors the composition to a specific locale, inviting considerations of regional identity within a broader consumer visual language.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the piece employs the flat, graphic qualities characteristic of Rosenquist’s commercial background, with bold outlines and luminous color fields. The combination of crisp edges and blurred surroundings creates a tension between clarity and ambiguity, a hallmark of his approach to merging advertising aesthetics with fine art.
History & Provenance
Part of a mixed-media portfolio that also includes lithographic works, the print was produced during a prolific period for Rosenquist when he was consolidating his reputation within pop art. The work bears the artist’s signature in a restrained, straightforward hand, underscoring its place within his catalog of printed productions.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Albert Rosenquist (November 29, 1933 – March 31, 2017) was an American artist and one of the proponents of the pop art movement.
