Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor print by Kiki Smith. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2003, this untitled print by Kiki Smith combines etching, aquatint, drypoint, sanding and watercolor additions. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It presents a solitary figure on a gentle hill under a pale sky, accompanied by a group of dark birds in flight.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a young woman dressed in a maroon gown with white trim, her long brown hair cascading as she looks to the right. A flock of birds, rendered in varying poses, moves away from her, suggesting a moment of departure or transition set against a tranquil, open landscape.
Technique & Style
Smith employs a layered printmaking process: etched lines define the figure and dress, while aquatint and drypoint create tonal depth. Sanding softens surfaces, and selective watercolor glazing adds muted color to the sky, dress and birds. The vertical line work on the gown and the delicate rendering of grass illustrate a meticulous hand.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the early 2000s, a period when Smith explored mixed-media prints that blend traditional intaglio with painterly interventions. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, where it remains on view as part of the institution’s holdings of contemporary printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kiki Smith is a German-born American artist whose work has addressed the themes of sex, birth and regeneration.
