Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Jasper Johns. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Jasper Johns’ 1967 lithograph, titled Untitled, presents a compact composition of geometric forms rendered in vivid hues. The central motif is a red square containing a concentric target pattern of yellow and blue rings, the outermost edge appearing irregular as if applied with a gestural brushstroke. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The image juxtaposes elementary shapes—square, circle, and concentric rings—with a palette of primary colors, inviting viewers to reconsider familiar visual symbols. By reducing a target to its basic components, Johns blurs the line between everyday iconography and formal abstraction, prompting reflection on perception and representation.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece employs the stone‑based printing process, allowing for both crisp outlines and the textured, uneven edges visible in the red field. Johns’ characteristic use of flat color blocks and simplified forms aligns with his broader practice of merging painterly gestures with graphic precision.
History & Provenance
Created during a prolific period when Johns was influencing abstract expressionism, Neo‑Dada, and early pop art, the lithograph entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its production. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s commitment to documenting the evolution of mid‑century American printmaking.
Context
The work emerges amid the 1960s shift toward reproducible media, where artists like Johns explored the boundaries between fine art and mass‑produced imagery. The target motif, a recurring element in his oeuvre, connects this print to his earlier paintings and sculptures that interrogate visual symbols.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jasper Johns (born May 15, 1930) is an American painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker.
