Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by John Paul Jones. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
John Paul Jones’s 1963 lithograph, catalogued simply as Untitled, is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. Executed in black and white, the work presents a solitary figure within an ambiguous, cavernous space, juxtaposing a static human presence against dynamic, swirling background marks.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a lone individual whose torso is turned slightly away, arms folded across the chest, suggesting introspection or guardedness. The surrounding environment, rendered as a rough, textured tunnel, frames the figure, creating a tension between confinement and the sense of movement implied by the surrounding brush‑like strokes.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, Jones drew directly onto a stone or metal plate, allowing the ink to capture the immediacy of his hand. The resulting print is marked by uneven lines and raw edges, giving the surface a spontaneous, unfinished quality that emphasizes the contrast between the figure’s solidity and the kinetic background.
History & Provenance
First produced in 1963, the untitled lithograph entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in mid‑century American printmaking and the artist’s exploration of graphic media during that period.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Paul Jones was a British-American naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
