Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Julie Mehretu. It dates from 2006 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 2006 print by Julie Mehretu, combines etching, engraving, and drypoint techniques. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies the artist’s interest in layered, abstract compositions.
Subject & Meaning
The image consists of a dense network of intersecting lines and clustered marks that suggest both organic and urban forms. The tangled strokes evoke the impression of wind‑blown feathers or a chaotic city map, inviting viewers to contemplate the tension between order and disorder.
Technique & Style
Mehretu employs a hybrid of precise incised lines and softer, smudged marks, achieved through the interplay of drypoint’s burry texture and the controlled depth of engraving and etching. The contrast between sharp, dark clusters and faint, wispy lines creates a dynamic sense of movement across the plate.
History & Provenance
Created in 2006, the print entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its completion. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s ongoing commitment to representing contemporary printmaking practices.
Context
Mehretu’s work often explores cartographic and architectural motifs, reconfiguring them into abstract visual fields. Untitled aligns with this trajectory, using the language of line and mark to reference the complexities of modern urban environments.
Artist & collection
Artist
Julie Mehretu is an Ethiopian American contemporary visual artist, known for her multi-layered paintings of abstracted landscapes on a large scale.
