Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Judith Mason. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this screenprint is part of a series of thirty-one mixed‑media prints by South African artist Judith Mason. The work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It presents a solitary, bright‑yellow figure caught in the act of flipping, set against a muted pink wash that varies in tone across the paper.
Subject & Meaning
The lone figure, rendered in a stark, simplified silhouette, suggests motion through its sharply bent limbs and faint trailing lines. While the image lacks explicit narrative, Mason’s broader practice often incorporates dense symbolism and mythic allusion, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of transformation or fleeting gesture within an abstracted human form.
Technique & Style
Mason employed screenprinting to achieve a flat, saturated yellow against a watercolor‑like pink background. The paper’s subtle texture hints at a wet medium bleeding through, while the figure’s smooth, solid shapes contrast with the delicate, uneven wash, giving the piece a sketch‑like immediacy despite its precise execution.
History & Provenance
The print emerged from a portfolio that explored mixed‑media possibilities, uniting printmaking with painterly effects. After its creation, the work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it has been catalogued as part of Mason’s print oeuvre, reflecting her engagement with both graphic and tactile processes.
Context
Mason’s practice spans oil, pencil, printmaking and assemblage, often marked by mythological references and a rigorous technical approach. This untitled piece aligns with her interest in reducing complex ideas to stark visual forms, situating it within early‑2000s South African contemporary art that negotiates personal expression and broader cultural symbols.
Artist & collection
Artist
Judith Mason born Judith Seelander Menge (10 October 1938 – 28 December 2016) was a South African artist who worked in oil, pencil, printmaking and mixed media.
