Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Lucio Pozzi. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a lithograph from a portfolio of forty works created by Lucio Pozzi in 1997. It is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The image consists entirely of black ink lines on a white ground, forming a dense, non-representational network of strokes. Each print in the series was produced using the same lithographic process, emphasizing repetition with subtle variation.
Subject & Meaning
The work avoids figurative or symbolic content, presenting instead an abstract accumulation of marks. The overlapping lines suggest movement, hesitation, or spontaneous gesture, evoking the physical act of drawing without depicting a recognizable subject. Its meaning lies in the energy of the process rather than in any external reference or narrative.
Technique & Style
The absence of color and the uniformity of the printing technique unify the portfolio while allowing individual expression within each sheet.
Pozzi employed lithography, a method relying on the repulsion of oil and water, to transfer ink from a stone surface to paper. The lines vary in weight—from heavy, saturated strokes to delicate, fading traces—demonstrating the medium’s capacity for tonal nuance. The absence of color and the uniformity of the printing technique unify the portfolio while allowing individual expression within each sheet.
History & Provenance
Created in 1997, this lithograph was produced as part of a limited series of forty identical prints. It entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its completion, likely through direct acquisition from the artist or publisher. The portfolio’s cohesive structure suggests intentional thematic or formal exploration rather than isolated experimentation.
Context
Pozzi’s work from this period aligns with post-minimalist and process-oriented practices that valued gesture and materiality over representation. In the late 1990s, many artists returned to drawing as a direct, unmediated form of expression. This piece reflects that trend, prioritizing the physicality of mark-making over conceptual or political messaging.
Legacy
The portfolio remains a quiet but significant example of late 20th-century printmaking that redefined drawing as a reproducible medium. While not widely exhibited individually, its inclusion in MoMA’s collection ensures its place in discussions of abstract print practices. The work’s endurance lies in its restraint and the clarity of its formal inquiry.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucio Pozzi is an Italian-born, American artist currently based in Hudson, New York, and Valeggio sul Mincio, Verona, Italy. He studied architecture in Rome before moving to New York City in 1962.
