Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Lester F. Johnson. It dates from 1954 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1954 woodcut print by Lester F. Johnson, an American artist linked to the Second Generation of the New York School. Characterized by its simple yet expressive black-and-white design, the piece depicts a face emerging from a tree trunk, executed with rough, uneven lines indicative of direct wood carving.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a stylized, figurative expressionist face with exaggerated features: large, round eyes, a straight-line nose, and a small, slightly curved mouth. Framed by textures evoking bark, the face appears to grow organically from the wood, suggesting a thematic connection between the human form and natural elements.
Technique & Style
The woodcut showcases Johnson's use of direct carving, where tools were applied straight to the wood, resulting in thick, irregular lines. This technique, inherent to the woodcut process, involves inking carved areas and transferring the image to paper, emphasizing the interplay between the natural grain of the wood and the artist's expressive marks.
History & Provenance
Created in 1954, Untitled is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, reflecting Johnson's contribution to the mid-20th-century American art scene, particularly within the expressive and figurative tendencies of the New York School's second wave.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lester Johnson (January 27, 1919 – May 30, 2010) was an American artist and educator.
