Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Larry Rivers. It dates from 1970 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Larry Rivers produced this 1970 lithograph as part of his ongoing exploration of figuration within printmaking. Though associated with Pop art, his approach resisted easy categorization, blending observational drawing with experimental techniques. The work is held in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection, reflecting its significance in postwar American print culture.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a close-up of a face, rendered with minimal detail but strong emotional presence. Short, wavy hair and direct, serious eyes suggest introspection or tension. No narrative context is provided, allowing the viewer to project meaning onto the quiet, unadorned portrait. The absence of color beyond the border emphasizes the psychological weight of the gaze.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the image relies on the transfer of ink from a stone surface to paper, enabling subtle tonal variations and fluid line work.
Executed in lithography, the image relies on the transfer of ink from a stone surface to paper, enabling subtle tonal variations and fluid line work. Rivers employed loose, rapid strokes that mimic sketchbook drawings, prioritizing immediacy over polish. The contrast of black ink against white paper heightens the sense of spontaneity, while the colored inner border frames the composition without distracting from its intimacy.
History & Provenance
Created in 1970, the lithograph entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its production. It reflects Rivers’s sustained interest in printmaking during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a period when he increasingly turned to graphic media to explore portraiture. Its acquisition by MoMA underscores its role in documenting the artist’s evolving practice beyond painting.
Context
During the 1970s, many American artists revisited figuration as a counterpoint to dominant abstraction. Rivers, already known for merging imagery with conceptual depth, used lithography to investigate the limits of representation. This work aligns with broader trends in printmaking that valued process and personal expression over commercial aesthetics.
Legacy
The lithograph exemplifies Rivers’s contribution to legitimizing print as a serious medium for contemporary expression. Its restrained technique and emotional resonance influenced later generations of artists who sought to merge drawing with printmaking. Though not widely reproduced, it remains a quiet but persistent reference in studies of postwar American graphic art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Larry Rivers (born Yitzroch Loiza Grossberg; August 17, 1923 – August 14, 2002) was an American painter, musician, filmmaker, and occasional actor.
