Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Kirsten Hawthorne. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1976 print by Kirsten Hawthorne, part of a portfolio of 29 photocopies, currently in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes disparate elements: above, a collection of mundane, discarded objects (a rusty metal piece, a key, a toy, and a button) contrasts sharply with eight black-and-white mugshots of men below, each labeled with a name and city. This juxtaposition creates a sense of incongruity, pitting the seriousness of the mugshots against the triviality of the objects.
Technique & Style
The piece is a collage, with objects and photographs physically attached to a white page, then photocopying the assemblage for the final print. The technique preserves the tactile quality of the original collage, with visible tape on the mugshots.
History & Provenance
Created in 1976 by Kirsten Hawthorne, the work is now held in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art, as part of its broader portfolio of 29 related photocopy prints.
Context
While the mugshots suggest an official or archival source, their pairing with everyday discarded items may comment on the intersection of the personal and the institutional, or the elevation of the mundane alongside the formally documented.
Legacy
As part of a larger portfolio, this work contributes to a broader exploration of collage and photocopying as artistic mediums in the late 20th century, though its specific impact or influence is not widely detailed in available information.
Artist & collection
