Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by José Antonio Suárez Londoño. It dates from 2002 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, an etching produced in 2002 by Colombian artist José Antonio Suárez Londoño, belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work consists of a square print composed of densely packed, soft‑edged circles rendered in varying tones of gray and white, intersected by stark, darker forms that dominate the central field.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes a repetitive, almost code‑like pattern of fuzzy circles with two tangled, dark silhouettes that suggest intertwined branches or hands. Beneath these forms the word “NO” appears in an irregular, hand‑drawn script, introducing a textual element that disrupts the visual rhythm and hints at a negation or refusal.
Technique & Style
Created through traditional intaglio etching, the artist incised the design into a metal plate, allowing for the delicate gradations of tone seen in the circles and the crisp, high‑contrast lines of the central shapes. The overall aesthetic balances repetitive abstraction with gestural, expressive marks, characteristic of Londoño’s printmaking practice.
History & Provenance
The print was completed in 2002 and subsequently acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s permanent holdings. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection underscores the museum’s interest in contemporary Latin American printmaking.
Context
During the early 2000s, Londoño explored themes of communication, restriction, and the interplay between order and chaos in his work. Untitled reflects this preoccupation by merging a systematic, grid‑like background with disruptive, hand‑written text, echoing broader artistic concerns about language and visual syntax.
Artist & collection
Artist
José Antonio Suárez Londoño (b. 1955) was a Colombian artist, born in Medellín.
