Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Mamma Andersson. It dates from 2015 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 2015 woodcut monoprint by Swedish artist Mamma Andersson, belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work presents a pale, headless figure in striped stockings, positioned within a dimly lit interior. The composition is stark, with the figure’s torso abruptly ending at the neck, creating a sense of incomplete presence.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, stripped of a head and rendered in muted tones, evokes a quiet tension. Its striped stockings and the surrounding darkness suggest anonymity and isolation, while the abrupt truncation at the neck hints at a narrative interrupted or a memory that cannot be fully grasped. The scene invites contemplation of absence and the fleeting nature of perception.
Technique & Style
Andersson employs a woodcut monoprint process, carving lines into a wood block that are then transferred onto paper with ink. The marks retain a scratched, tactile quality, appearing both soft and rough, reminiscent of a fading recollection. Thin washes of ink overlay the carved lines, giving the image a layered depth that oscillates between presence and dissolution.
History & Provenance
Created in 2015, the piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary printmaking and Andersson’s evolving practice, which frequently explores the interplay of memory, domestic space, and the human figure through print media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mamma Andersson is a Swedish contemporary artist. She is based in Stockholm and is married to artist Jockum Nordström.
