Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Kurt Seligmann. It dates from 1947 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1947 etching by Swiss-American Surrealist Kurt Seligmann, part of a mixed-media portfolio comprising five etchings (one with engraving) and two lithographs, now held in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The etching depicts a chaotic, dark scene with skeletal, twisted figures—some identifiable, others half-formed—entangled in fabric and abstract shapes, reflecting Seligmann’s fascination with macabre rituals and medieval themes.
Technique & Style
Characterized by sharp, jagged lines and swirling backgrounds, the etching conveys a sense of dynamic unease, blending human and abstract elements in a typically Surrealist juxtaposition of the bizarre and the unsettling.
History & Provenance
Created in 1947, this work aligns with Seligmann’s involvement in the Surrealist movement in both Paris and the United States, and is now part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection as part of the aforementioned portfolio.
Context
Seligmann’s work, including *Untitled*, draws from influences such as medieval themes and the Basel carnival, situating it within a broader Surrealist exploration of the irrational and the fantastical.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kurt Leopold Seligmann (20 July 1900, Basel – 2 January 1962, Sugar Loaf) was a Swiss-American Surrealist painter, engraver, and occultist.
