Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Lev Nusberg. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Lev Nusberg’s 1962 untitled screenprint belongs to a series of twelve works produced in the same year. Executed in black and white, the piece fills the entire field with a tightly packed lattice of triangles, lines and angular forms. The composition lacks a single focal point, presenting instead a continuous, maze‑like network that extends across the surface.
Subject & Meaning
The image does not depict a recognizable scene; rather, it explores the visual impact of systematic repetition. The interlocking geometric elements suggest notions of order, mapping or schematic planning, inviting viewers to contemplate the relationship between precision and abstraction within a purely formal framework.
Technique & Style
Created through screenprinting, the work employs a stark monochrome palette that emphasizes contrast between positive and negative space. The repetitive application of fine lines and small triangles demonstrates a meticulous process, characteristic of mid‑century modernist investigations into pattern, geometry and the possibilities of print media.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in 1962 as part of Nusberg’s twelve‑piece portfolio and entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains in the institution’s holdings. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in documenting the development of abstract printmaking during the post‑war period.
Context
Nusberg’s work aligns with contemporary explorations of geometric abstraction and systematic design prevalent in the early 1960s. The piece resonates with the broader modernist discourse on the reduction of form to basic elements, echoing parallel developments in architecture, graphic design and industrial aesthetics of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lev Valdemarovich Nussberg is a Russian painter, and founder of Russian kinetic art.
