Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by James Turrell. It dates from 1990 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, produced in 1990, is a portfolio comprising twenty aquatint prints by American artist James Turrell. The series belongs to his broader investigation of light as a visual and experiential element, a concern that defines much of his work within the Light and Space movement.
Subject & Meaning
Each print presents a stark composition: a dark field is interrupted by a single, sharply defined, tilted square near the top, from which a faint, elongated shadow descends. The contrast between the luminous square and the surrounding black emphasizes the interplay of illumination and its absence, inviting contemplation of perception itself.
Technique & Style
Turrell employed the aquatint process, a form of intaglio printing that allows for subtle tonal gradations. By manipulating the resin and acid exposure, he achieved a deep, uniform darkness punctuated by a bright, crisp geometric shape, creating the illusion of a light source within the two‑dimensional medium.
History & Provenance
The portfolio was created as part of Turrell’s early 1990s output, a period marked by his transition from large‑scale installations to more intimate, paper‑based works. The prints have been exhibited in several group shows focusing on contemporary approaches to light, and they remain in private and institutional collections.
Context
Turrell’s practice emerged from the Southern California Light and Space movement, which explored how artificial and natural illumination shape spatial awareness. Untitled extends this inquiry into the realm of printmaking, translating his installation‑based concerns about light and perception onto a portable, reproducible format.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Turrell (born May 6, 1943) is an American artist known for his work within the Light and Space movement.
