Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Kiawak Ashoona. It dates from 1963 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1963 by Canadian Inuk artist Kiawak Ashoona, this stone‑cut print is titled *Untitled*. The work belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies the artist’s prolific period in Cape Dorset, during which he produced a large body of graphic and sculptural work.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a side profile of a sizable, four‑legged animal crowned with a long, curved horn. Rendered in thick, furry textures, the creature’s body is built from vertical line work that suggests a dense coat, while the horn follows a smooth, sweeping curve, giving the composition a restrained yet expressive presence.
Technique & Style
Executed through stone‑cut printing, the piece relies on incised lines to create its visual language. Vertical incisions form the animal’s body, generating a tactile sense of fur, whereas the horn is defined by broader, curved cuts. The limited palette and stark line quality reflect Ashoona’s emphasis on clarity and formal simplicity.
History & Provenance
Kiawak Ashoona, a member of the Order of Canada and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, produced this work amid a sustained period of artistic activity in the early 1960s. After its creation, the print entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains part of the institution’s representation of Indigenous Canadian printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kiugak Ashoona (September 16, 1933 – 2014; also known as Kiawak; Inuktitut syllabics: ᑭᐅᒐᒃ ᐊᓲᓇ) was a Canadian Inuk artist renowned for his sculptural work and his expansive artistic portfolio.
