Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Larry Rivers. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Larry Rivers’ 1962 lithograph, titled Untitled, presents a stark composition of geometric forms on a white field. A pink square dominates the picture plane, within which a black circle is centered. The circle bears the phrase “LUCKY STRIKE” enclosed in a rectangular box, all outlined by a thick black border that gives the image a rough, graphic quality.
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of the cigarette brand name “Lucky Strike” introduces a commercial reference that aligns the work with mid‑century consumer culture. By juxtaposing the brand text with abstract shapes, Rivers creates a tension between everyday signage and non‑representational art, prompting viewers to consider the visual language of advertising within a fine‑art context.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece employs the medium’s capacity for bold, flat areas of color and crisp line work. Rivers’ handling of the ink produces a slightly uneven edge around the black border, contributing to an intentionally rough aesthetic that blurs the line between precise graphic design and gestural abstraction.
History & Provenance
Created in 1962, the print is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It reflects Rivers’ transitional period, during which he moved from abstract expressionist concerns toward the emerging visual vocabulary of Pop art, integrating narrative elements into his previously non‑objective practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Larry Rivers (born Yitzroch Loiza Grossberg; August 17, 1923 – August 14, 2002) was an American painter, musician, filmmaker, and occasional actor.
