Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Liliana Porter. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1975, this untitled work by Liliana Porter is a small, square-format print that combines etching with collage elements. The composition consists of a monochrome, sand‑like ground populated by abstract forms—a pair of angular paper fragments, a circular shape, and several fine lines—each appearing torn or cut and set against a light background.
Technique & Style
Porter employed a photoetching process, transferring a printed image onto a metal plate before incising it. She then incorporated torn pieces of paper into the matrix, adhering them before the final impression. The result is a hybrid surface where the crispness of line work meets the irregular edges of collage, emphasizing texture over representational detail.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents no narrative scene; instead, it foregrounds the materiality of paper and the act of cutting. By juxtaposing geometric fragments with a textured field, Porter invites contemplation of fragmentation, the boundaries between drawing and assemblage, and the visual tension created by juxtaposed surfaces.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Acquired as part of MoMA’s effort to document experimental print practices of the 1970s, the work reflects the period’s interest in mixed media and process-oriented approaches.
Context
During the mid‑1970s, artists increasingly explored the convergence of printmaking and collage, challenging traditional notions of the print as a purely reproducible medium. Porter’s integration of torn paper into an etching aligns with this broader movement toward hybrid techniques and the questioning of medium specificity.
Artist & collection
Artist
Liliana Porter is an Argentine contemporary artist working in a wide variety of media, including photography, printmaking, painting, drawing, installation, video, theater, and public art.
