Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Kiki Smith. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The piece takes the form of a long, accordion-folded sheet, its surface covered in delicate, grayish lines that suggest internal networks.
Created in 1998, this photogravure by Kiki Smith is a printed work on paper, held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. The piece takes the form of a long, accordion-folded sheet, its surface covered in delicate, grayish lines that suggest internal networks. The technique involves transferring a photographic image of human veins onto a metal plate, then printing it with subtle tonal gradations, resulting in a quiet, tactile object that invites physical engagement.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a close-up view of subcutaneous veins, rendered without context or anatomical labeling. By isolating this internal landscape, Smith shifts focus from the visible exterior to the hidden infrastructure of the body. The absence of skin or flesh emphasizes vulnerability, while the scale and repetition of the folds evoke a sense of continuity—suggesting both biological fragility and the expansive, unseen systems that sustain life.
Technique & Style
Smith employed photogravure, a labor-intensive intaglio process that captures fine photographic detail through etched metal plates. The resulting print retains the softness of a photograph but with the texture and depth of a hand-printed image. The accordion fold transforms the flat surface into a sculptural object, encouraging the viewer to unfold and re-fold the work, engaging with it as a physical, temporal experience rather than a static image.
History & Provenance
Made in 1998, the work entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation. It is part of a broader series by Smith exploring the corporeal through printmaking, reflecting her interest in the body as a site of both biological truth and symbolic resonance. Its inclusion in MoMA’s holdings underscores its significance within late 20th-century print practices that expanded the boundaries of the medium.
Context
In the 1990s, Smith emerged as a central figure in contemporary art for her unflinching depictions of the human form, often drawing from medical imagery and feminist discourse. This work aligns with her broader practice of rendering internal anatomy with poetic restraint, countering the sensationalism common in representations of the body. It reflects a moment when artists increasingly turned to printmaking to explore intimacy, scale, and materiality.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to a redefinition of printmaking as a medium capable of conveying psychological and physiological depth. Its quiet intensity has influenced subsequent artists working with bodily imagery and non-traditional formats. By merging scientific observation with tactile form, Smith’s approach continues to resonate in contemporary practices that seek to make the invisible palpable.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kiki Smith is a German-born American artist whose work has addressed the themes of sex, birth and regeneration.
