Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by John Steuart Curry. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
John Steuart Curry’s 1939 lithograph, catalogued simply as Untitled, presents a dynamic figure rendered in stark monochrome. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s print collection and exemplifies Curry’s engagement with the lithographic medium during his mature period as a leading American Regionalist.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on a disheveled man with a full beard, his arms thrust upward as if caught in a shout or a physical exertion. His contorted facial expression conveys intense effort or anger, while a faint ship’s bow in the distance hints at a turbulent environment, perhaps a storm‑laden sea, that amplifies the figure’s agitation.
Technique & Style
Curry employs swift, gestural lines that give the composition a sketch‑like immediacy, characteristic of his printmaking approach. The lithographic process allows for bold contrasts and textured strokes, emphasizing the musculature and facial tension of the subject while relegating the background to a barely suggested silhouette.
History & Provenance
Created in 1939, the lithograph reflects Curry’s broader output that spanned painting, illustration, and poster design. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, joining a collection that documents the development of American printmaking during the interwar years.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Steuart Curry (November 14, 1897 – August 29, 1946) was an American painter whose career spanned the years from 1924 until his death.
