Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Mario Yrisarry. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1967, Untitled is one of eight screenprints in a portfolio by Mario Yrisarry. The work is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. It features a minimalist composition of eight abstract black forms on a white ground, arranged in two horizontal rows of four. The design emphasizes spatial balance and subtle variation in line quality, avoiding narrative or symbolic content.
Subject & Meaning
The print presents no recognizable figures or symbols. Instead, it offers a sequence of abstract shapes—some straight, others softly curved or irregularly edged—suggesting movement or gesture without depicting anything specific. The absence of context invites viewers to focus on form, rhythm, and the relationship between positive and negative space, reflecting an interest in visual structure over representation.
Technique & Style
Yrisarry employed screenprinting to achieve crisp, flat black ink shapes against unprinted paper. The technique allowed precise control over edge definition, with some lines appearing deliberately rough or uneven, introducing a tactile quality. The stark contrast and deliberate spacing emphasize the materiality of the print and the artist’s attention to the physical act of mark-making.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in 1967 as part of a limited portfolio of eight works. It entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation, indicating early institutional recognition. Its inclusion in a portfolio suggests the artist was exploring seriality and variation, common concerns among printmakers of the period seeking to expand the boundaries of the medium.
Context
Made during a time when abstract and minimal approaches were gaining traction in American art, Yrisarry’s work aligns with broader trends favoring reduction and formal inquiry. While not associated with major movements, his prints reflect the era’s interest in non-representational composition, echoing contemporaries who used simple forms to explore perception and structure.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited outside institutional collections, Untitled remains a quiet example of 1960s printmaking that prioritizes restraint and precision. It contributes to a lesser-known strand of postwar American art that valued subtlety over spectacle, influencing later generations interested in the quiet power of abstraction and the material presence of the printed line.
Artist & collection
