Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Jenny Holzer. It dates from 1982 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1982, this work by Jenny Holzer consists of a black‑and‑white photostat print. The image presents typed statements arranged in a simple grid on a stark white background. Each line is concise, the phrasing direct, and several phrases recur within the composition, giving the piece a rhythmic, list‑like quality.
Subject & Meaning
The work continues Holzer’s investigation of language as a public medium, employing brief, declarative sentences that function as self‑contained observations. By repeating phrases such as “A name means a lot just by itself,” the piece foregrounds the power of naming and the ambiguity of everyday judgments, inviting viewers to consider how language shapes perception.
Technique & Style
Executed as a photostat, the piece retains the raw, unrefined texture of a photocopied document. The typographic layout is uniform, with each line set in a plain typeface, emphasizing content over visual ornamentation. The stark monochrome palette and grid structure reinforce the work’s conceptual focus on text rather than image.
History & Provenance
Holzer, an American neo‑conceptual artist linked to the feminist currents of the early 1980s, produced this piece during a period when she was expanding from text‑based prints to larger installations and site‑specific interventions. The work remains documented as part of her early print series, illustrating the evolution of her practice toward public, text‑driven art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jenny Holzer (born July 29, 1950) is an American neo-conceptual artist based in Hoosick, New York.
