Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Davi Det Hompson, Ann Fessler, Charles Brohawn, Chris Mason, Cliff Baldwin, Carolee Schneemann, Various Artists Kay Rosen. It dates from 1991 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
It was made in 1991 as a group project, with each artist exploring how written words can also be images.
This artwork is a set of nine black-and-white prints made with letterpress, each by a different artist. The words and shapes on the pages play with language, spelling, and how letters look. Some lines twist, repeat, or hide in patterns.
It was made in 1991 as a group project, with each artist exploring how written words can also be images. One print stretches letters across the page; another breaks words into pieces. The title, *Nine is a Four Letter Word*, jokes about counting letters, not words.
You can see this portfolio at The Museum of Modern Art.
Overview
Untitled is a collaborative print portfolio created in 1991, comprising nine black-and-white letterpress prints by ten distinct artists. Held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, this work explores the intersection of language and visual form.
Subject & Meaning
The portfolio delves into the dual nature of written elements as both linguistic tools and visual entities. Through manipulated typography, twisted lines, repetitive patterns, and fragmented words, the artists investigate how text can transcend its literal meaning to become a compositional element.
Technique & Style
Each print utilizes letterpress techniques to emphasize the physicality of text. Varied approaches include elongated letters spanning pages, dissected words, and intricate patterns, showcasing a range of stylistic interpretations within the constraints of black-and-white letterpress.
History & Provenance
Conceived as a group project in 1991, the portfolio was contributed to by a diverse group of ten artists. It is currently part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Context
Notably, one print bears the title *Nine is a Four Letter Word*, a playful commentary on the numerical title of the portfolio, highlighting the interplay between literal count and linguistic representation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kay Rosen, Davi Det Hompson, Ann Fessler, Charles Brohawn, Chris Mason, Cliff Baldwin, Carolee Schneemann, Various Artists was an American) () () () () () (American) ( artist.
