Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Julia Rommel. It dates from 2014 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2014, this intaglio print on folded and collaged paper is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
About this work
Overview
The work resists flatness by exploiting the physicality of paper, turning crumpled folds and overlapping sheets into structural elements of the composition.
Created in 2014, this intaglio print on folded and collaged paper is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Julia Rommel constructs the image through layered paper surfaces and incised lines, blending printmaking with tactile, sculptural techniques. The work resists flatness by exploiting the physicality of paper, turning crumpled folds and overlapping sheets into structural elements of the composition.
Subject & Meaning
Two abstract rectangles, one tilted, intersect on the surface, their boundaries defined by delicate black lines. Within them, gradations of gray suggest volume and spatial recession, but no representational forms are present. The piece invites contemplation of form and materiality rather than narrative, emphasizing how simple geometric arrangements can evoke depth through shadow and texture alone.
Technique & Style
Rommel employs intaglio printing on layered, folded paper, allowing ink to settle into creases and edges. The contrast between light and dark gray areas mimics chiaroscuro, lending the flat planes an illusion of three-dimensionality. Crumpled paper reveals underlying layers, integrating the substrate’s physical history into the image’s visual rhythm. Lines are minimal, precise, and deliberately restrained.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation. It reflects Rommel’s early 2010s practice, in which she explored the intersection of printmaking and collage, often using paper as both medium and subject. No prior exhibition or ownership history beyond the artist’s studio is publicly documented.
Context
Rommel’s approach aligns with a broader post-minimalist interest in material process and imperfection. Her use of folded paper and intaglio echoes experimental printmaking traditions from the 1960s and 70s, while her restrained palette and geometric forms resonate with contemporary abstraction that prioritizes tactility over symbolism.
Legacy
This work contributes to an evolving dialogue around printmaking as a sculptural medium. Rommel’s integration of paper’s physical state into the image has influenced younger artists reconsidering the boundaries between drawing, print, and object. Its quiet complexity continues to be referenced in discussions of material-based abstraction.
Artist & collection
