Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Maria Uhden. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1916, this untitled linoleum cut by Maria Uhden is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work measures a compact format typical of early twentieth‑century printmaking and presents a stark black‑and‑white composition that captures a fleeting moment of movement.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts two dancers locked in an intimate embrace, their silhouettes rendered as stark, shadow‑like forms. The juxtaposition of the figures suggests a dynamic tension, conveying both the physical closeness of the performers and the fleeting, almost theatrical quality of their interaction.
Technique & Style
Uhden employed a linoleum block, a material more commonly associated with flooring than fine art, to carve bold, angular shapes. The resulting lines are deliberately rough and jagged, lacking gradual tonal transitions, which gives the print an immediacy akin to a rapid sketch of a live performance.
History & Provenance
At the age of twenty‑four, two years before her untimely death, Uhden produced this print, reflecting the urgency that characterizes much of her late work. The piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains accessible to the public as an example of early modernist print experimentation.
Artist & collection
