Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Jasper Johns. It dates from 2000 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2000, this untitled linoleum cut by Jasper Johns—an American artist active since the mid‑20th century—belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work presents a simplified rendition of the United States flag, juxtaposed with a monochrome figure positioned on undulating black lines that suggest a landscape or water surface.
Subject & Meaning
The composition combines a stylized flag of red, white and blue with a stark, black‑and‑white figure whose head is rendered as a white oval topped by a small hat. The contrast between the national emblem and the abstracted human form invites reflection on identity, symbolism and the tension between collective and individual representation.
Technique & Style
Johns employed the linoleum cut method, carving the design into a linoleum block before inking and pressing it onto paper. The resulting image is marked by bold, flat areas of color and crisp, geometric lines that give the piece a graphic, puzzle‑like quality, aligning with the artist’s longstanding interest in everyday iconography and visual reduction.
History & Provenance
The print was produced at the turn of the millennium and entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly thereafter. As part of Johns’s extensive oeuvre that traverses abstract expressionism, Neo‑Dada and pop art, the work reflects his continued exploration of familiar symbols through printmaking techniques.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jasper Johns (born May 15, 1930) is an American painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker.
