Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Kiki Smith. It dates from 1992 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1992, this untitled work by Kiki Smith is an intaglio print that combines etching with aquatint. The image presents a solitary figure curled on its side, arms drawn tightly around the knees, head bowed, evoking a sense of withdrawal. The composition is rendered in stark, rough lines that convey a dense, weighted form against a muted background.
Subject & Meaning
The figure’s compact posture and the quiet, still atmosphere suggest themes of introspection, vulnerability, and perhaps a moment of self‑containment. By isolating the body in a simple, unadorned setting, the work invites contemplation of the inner emotional state that the pose embodies.
Technique & Style
Smith employed traditional etching to incise the figure’s contours, while the aquatint process supplied soft, tonal washes that lift the background from the paper’s surface. The contrast between the harsh, dark lines and the subtle tonal fields creates depth and emphasizes the figure’s solidity within a hazy environment.
History & Provenance
The print entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary printmaking and in Smith’s contributions to the medium during the early 1990s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kiki Smith is a German-born American artist whose work has addressed the themes of sex, birth and regeneration.
