Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by John Ferren. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black-and-white print with areas of flat, unmodulated color—blue, yellow, white, and black—arranged in abstract, geometric forms.
John Ferren created this wood engraving in 1937, titled Untitled. It is part of the collection at The Museum of Modern Art. The work is a black-and-white print with areas of flat, unmodulated color—blue, yellow, white, and black—arranged in abstract, geometric forms. The composition relies on sharp, clean lines and layered shapes, characteristic of the wood engraving technique, which allows for fine, controlled detail through incised wood surfaces.
Subject & Meaning
The forms in the print resist clear narrative interpretation. They appear as abstract, stacked volumes, neither representational nor symbolic in a conventional sense. Their arrangement suggests spatial tension without depth, emphasizing structure over storytelling. The absence of recognizable imagery invites focus on formal relationships: balance, contrast, and the interplay of color and line as autonomous elements.
Technique & Style
Ferren employed wood engraving, a method involving carving fine lines into the end grain of hardwood. This technique produces crisp, precise edges and a high degree of detail. The colors were applied in flat, uniform layers during printing, resulting in a matte, non-textured surface. Thin red and brown lines, likely added by hand or through multiple blocks, introduce subtle contrast without disrupting the overall geometric clarity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1937, the work emerged during a period when American artists were exploring abstraction and printmaking as serious artistic mediums. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection in the decades following its creation, reflecting the institution’s early interest in modernist prints. Its provenance remains unremarkable, with no documented public exhibitions prior to its acquisition.
Context
In the late 1930s, many U.S. artists turned to printmaking for its accessibility and alignment with modernist ideals. Ferren, influenced by European abstraction and American regionalism, used wood engraving to pursue formal experimentation. This piece aligns with contemporaneous works by artists like Rockwell Kent and Lynd Ward, who similarly favored geometric abstraction and precise craftsmanship in their prints.
Legacy
Untitled exemplifies Ferren’s early engagement with abstraction and printmaking, predating his later shift toward painting and surrealism. While not widely reproduced, it remains a significant example of American modernist printmaking from the 1930s. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection underscores its role in documenting the period’s formal innovations and the medium’s evolving status in fine art.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Millard Ferren was an American artist and educator. He was active from 1920 until 1970 in San Francisco, Paris and New York City.
