Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Jasper Johns in 1997.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Jasper Johns , 1997

Untitled is an ink print by Jasper Johns. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1997, this untitled work by Jasper Johns belongs to a small portfolio that brings together a range of print processes.

Created in 1997, this untitled work by Jasper Johns belongs to a small portfolio that brings together a range of print processes. The composition features a deep‑blue field punctuated by yellow stars linked by faint lines, beneath which three minimalist black figures stand on a light‑gray plane, each clutching a small object. The piece exemplifies Johns’s ongoing investigation of graphic media during the later phase of his career.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a night sky rendered in abstracted constellations, while the three stick‑like figures appear poised in quiet observation. Their simple gestures and the sparse, symbolic objects they hold suggest a contemplative stance toward the celestial arrangement, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between human presence and the vast, ordered space above.

Technique & Style

Johns combines etching with screen‑printing, lithography, and additional print methods within a single sheet, creating layered surfaces that merge line, tone, and color. The use of aquatint in the etching contributes subtle gradations, while the hot‑stamped screenprint adds the bright yellow of the stars. This hybrid approach reflects his long‑standing interest in the possibilities of mixed‑media printmaking.

History & Provenance

The work is part of a portfolio comprising four screenprints (one with hot stamping), three etchings (including an aquatint), an offset lithograph, and a lithograph. The portfolio is held by the Museum of Modern Art, where it serves as a documented example of Johns’s print practice in the 1990s, a period marked by continued experimentation with graphic processes.