Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Larry Rivers. It dates from 1961 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Larry Rivers’ 1961 lithograph titled Untitled presents a stark black‑and‑white composition that juxtaposes a simplified automobile with an ambiguous architectural form. The image is rendered with loose, hurried lines, giving the impression of a rapid sketch rather than a finished drawing. Its uneven borders and occasional ink bleed enhance the sense of immediacy and intentional incompleteness.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a rudimentary car—wheels reduced to circles and a long hood—set before a building that resembles a window filled with indistinct, smudged shapes. The juxtaposition of a recognizable vehicle with an almost memory‑like structure invites viewers to consider the tension between concrete objects and fleeting perception.
Technique & Style
The combination of abstracted forms with a hint of narrative aligns with Rivers’ practice of merging non‑objective methods with figurative content.
Executed as a lithograph, the piece employs the medium’s capacity for bold, gestural marks. Rivers’ line work is deliberately rough, and the uneven edges suggest either torn paper or ink that has bled beyond its limits, reinforcing the artwork’s sketch‑like quality. The combination of abstracted forms with a hint of narrative aligns with Rivers’ practice of merging non‑objective methods with figurative content.
History & Provenance
Created during a period when Rivers was expanding the scope of Pop art, the lithograph reflects his interest in blending abstract and representational elements. The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of mid‑20th‑century American prints.
Context
Rivers, known for his work across painting, music, film, and occasional acting, was a pivotal figure in the dialogue between abstract expressionism and emerging popular culture. Untitled exemplifies his effort to integrate non‑objective techniques with narrative subjects, a hallmark of his contribution to the evolving language of Pop art in the early 1960s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Larry Rivers (born Yitzroch Loiza Grossberg; August 17, 1923 – August 14, 2002) was an American painter, musician, filmmaker, and occasional actor.
