Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Larry Rivers. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1968, this untitled work is one of seven printed pieces in a portfolio by Larry Rivers, combining lithography, etching, and screenprinting.
Created in 1968, this untitled work is one of seven printed pieces in a portfolio by Larry Rivers, combining lithography, etching, and screenprinting. It is constructed from cut-and-pasted printed elements, reflecting Rivers’ interest in layering disparate visual sources. The piece resides in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, representing his exploration of print media as a site for conceptual and formal experimentation beyond traditional painting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes fragmented imagery—a bull’s head, a woman’s face, a figure in formal dress—alongside fragmented text such as 'NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINE ART.' These elements resist clear narrative, instead suggesting irony or critique. The mismatched visuals and text evoke dissonance, possibly commenting on institutional authority or the fragmentation of meaning in postwar American culture.
Technique & Style
Rivers assembled the image using cut-and-pasted lithographic sheets, layering printed fragments with painted text and colored shapes. Jagged red strips frame the center, while a pink square anchors the composition. The use of bold, non-harmonious colors and irregular edges creates a deliberately chaotic aesthetic. This method merges mechanical reproduction with hand-altered intervention, blurring distinctions between print and collage.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 1968 as part of a limited portfolio that included multiple printmaking techniques. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional recognition of Rivers’ role in expanding the boundaries of printmaking. The portfolio’s mixed-media approach was unusual for the time, positioning Rivers as a bridge between Abstract Expressionism and the emerging Pop art sensibility.
Context
In the late 1960s, Rivers was engaged in challenging the hierarchies of high art by incorporating popular imagery and vernacular sources. This work emerged amid broader cultural skepticism toward institutions and traditional aesthetics. The fragmented text and disjointed figures reflect a period of questioning authority, mirroring the era’s political unrest and shifting artistic values in the United States.
Legacy
Rivers’ use of collage in printmaking influenced later artists who embraced fragmentation and textual disruption as critical tools. His integration of commercial print techniques with personal iconography helped legitimize mixed-media approaches within fine art print portfolios. This work remains a reference point for understanding how printmaking evolved beyond reproduction into a medium for conceptual inquiry.
Artist & collection
Artist
Larry Rivers (born Yitzroch Loiza Grossberg; August 17, 1923 – August 14, 2002) was an American painter, musician, filmmaker, and occasional actor.
