Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by José Luis Cuevas. It dates from 1956 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
In the background, there’s a faint, blurry scene of people sitting around a table, but it’s hard to make out.
This sketch shows a big, lumpy head with a wide-open mouth and wild hair. The face looks angry or surprised, with thick black lines and no real details. In the background, there’s a faint, blurry scene of people sitting around a table, but it’s hard to make out.
The artist signed it in the corner, and the year "1956" is written near the bottom. The drawing feels rough and fast, like it was made in one go.
Check out how this work was made using lithography.
Overview
Created in 1956, this lithographic print by Mexican artist José Luis Cuevas remains in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work is untitled, allowing viewers to approach its abstract composition without a prescribed narrative, while the artist’s signature and date appear discreetly in the lower right corner.
Subject & Meaning
The image centers on an exaggerated, bulbous head with a gaping mouth and untamed hair, rendered in stark black lines that convey a sense of agitation or surprise. Behind the figure, a hazy suggestion of figures gathered around a table emerges, hinting at a social scene that is deliberately obscured, inviting speculation about collective tension.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the piece exhibits the medium’s capacity for bold, gestural marks and rapid execution. Cuevas employs thick, unmodulated lines and a limited palette, emphasizing texture over detail. The rough, almost spontaneous quality suggests a single, immediate drawing session, characteristic of his early abstract explorations.
History & Provenance
The lithograph entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, reflecting the institution’s interest in mid‑century Mexican avant‑garde printmaking. Its acquisition records indicate it has been part of MoMA’s permanent collection since the late 1950s, with no known prior private ownership.
Artist & collection
Artist
José Luis Cuevas was a Mexican artist, he often worked as a painter, writer, draftsman, engraver, illustrator, and printmaker.
