Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Jasper Johns. It dates from 2021 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2021, this untitled etching with aquatint by Jasper Johns features a surreal composition with symbolic elements, characteristic of the artist's eclectic style spanning multiple postwar American art movements.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a luminous white skull hovering above three stick-figure-like individuals on a flat plane, each grasping a small, indeterminate object. A dark, punctuated sky provides a stark backdrop, with one figure rendered in red, drawing focal attention.
Technique & Style
Johns employed etching with aquatint to achieve a nuanced visual palette, juxtaposing soft, tonal shadows with sharp, defined lines, and leveraging color contrast to emphasize the red figure against a predominantly gray and dark backdrop.
History & Provenance
The work is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, reflecting its significance within Johns' oeuvre and postwar American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jasper Johns (born May 15, 1930) is an American painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker.
