Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Marisol. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1975, this lithograph is one of six in a mixed-media portfolio by Marisol, produced during her time in New York City.
Created in 1975, this lithograph is one of six in a mixed-media portfolio by Marisol, produced during her time in New York City. The portfolio combines lithography and screenprinting, with one piece incorporating collage. This work exemplifies her late-career exploration of printmaking, shifting from the sculptural focus of her earlier decades. It is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts two elderly women holding hands, their faces marked by deep lines and solemn expressions. Identified by inscriptions below as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the figures are historical leaders of the 19th-century women’s suffrage movement. Their quiet intimacy and the deliberate naming suggest a tribute to enduring activism and the personal cost of public struggle.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work employs bold, fluid lines and vivid, unmodulated colors that spill into the background as if painted directly. The contrast between the detailed figures and the loose, expressive washes behind them creates a tension between realism and abstraction. The hand-signed names ground the composition in historical fact, anchoring its emotional tone.
History & Provenance
Marisol, born in Paris in 1930 to Venezuelan parents, rose to prominence in the 1960s for her figurative sculptures before withdrawing from the public eye for years. This 1975 portfolio emerged during a quieter phase of her career, later gaining renewed attention as her broader oeuvre was reevaluated in the 21st century. The portfolio’s inclusion in MoMA’s collection reflects its significance in her printmaking output.
Context
Made during a period of feminist resurgence in the 1970s, the work quietly aligns with broader cultural efforts to reclaim women’s historical contributions. While Marisol did not publicly frame the piece as political, its choice of subjects and intimate portrayal resonate with contemporary movements honoring female pioneers. The use of printmaking allowed for broader dissemination, aligning with accessible, collective forms of expression.
Legacy
Though less known than her sculptures, this portfolio contributes to understanding Marisol’s versatility and sustained engagement with identity and memory. The inclusion of Stanton and Mott in a print format underscores her interest in historical figures as emotional presences. The work remains a subtle but persistent reference point in discussions of feminist art and printmaking in late 20th-century America.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marisol Escobar (May 22, 1930 – April 30, 2016), otherwise known simply as Marisol, was a Venezuelan-American sculptor born in Paris, who lived and worked in New York City.
