Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by John Emerson. It dates from 2012 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
John Emerson’s 2012 screenprint, catalogued simply as Untitled, belongs to a series of thirty‑one prints that explore confrontational imagery. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and is presented as a single sheet printed on paper. Its composition relies on stark color contrasts and graphic elements to convey a charged visual narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The image juxtaposes a bright yellow field with a black silhouette of a police officer clad in riot gear, baton raised. Above the figure, bold red lettering reads, “When you’re in riot gear, everything looks like a riot.” Red splatters surround the officer, while a diminutive flower occupies a corner, suggesting a tension between aggression and fragility.
Technique & Style
Emerson employed screen‑printing, a process that allows for flat, uniform color areas and crisp edges. The limited palette—yellow, red, black—creates a high‑contrast visual impact. The use of text as a graphic element and the inclusion of splatter marks evoke both the immediacy of protest posters and the aesthetic of street art.
History & Provenance
Created in 2012, the print was produced as part of Emerson’s larger portfolio of thirty‑one works, each exploring themes of authority and dissent. The Museum of Modern Art acquired the piece shortly after its completion, adding it to its holdings of contemporary prints and political art.
Context
Emerson’s Untitled emerges from a period of heightened public scrutiny of law‑enforcement tactics, reflecting broader debates about protest, policing, and visual rhetoric. By integrating a slogan with graphic symbolism, the work aligns with a lineage of activist art that uses simple visual language to comment on social conflict.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Emerson made screenprints in 2012, a portfolio of thirty-one untitled pieces.
