Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Marisol. It dates from 1965 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1965, this untitled lithograph by Marisol reflects the artist’s rising profile on the international stage during the mid‑1960s.
Created in 1965, this untitled lithograph by Marisol reflects the artist’s rising profile on the international stage during the mid‑1960s. The composition features a vertically elongated figure with a red head and blue torso, perched atop an uneven stack of block‑like forms. The overall arrangement is deliberately off‑balance, employing bright, flat areas of color that recall both childlike drawing and the bold visual language of contemporary popular culture.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure, rendered in stark stripes, appears to be a stylized human or totem, its exaggerated proportions and precarious base suggesting a commentary on stability and identity. The irregularly placed blocks beneath it evoke a sense of makeshift support, hinting at themes of cultural hybridity and the tension between tradition and modernity that recur in Marisol’s work.
Technique & Style
Executed through lithography, the image achieves layered coloration with a loose, sketch‑like quality. The process allows for uneven, hand‑drawn lines that retain a spontaneous feel, contrasting with the flat, saturated hues typical of Pop Art. This combination of precise color fields and deliberately rough outlines underscores the artist’s blend of high‑brow and folk‑art aesthetics.
History & Provenance
The print entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the permanent holdings. Its acquisition aligns with MoMA’s mid‑century efforts to document the rise of artists who navigated both sculptural and graphic media, and who contributed to the dialogue between American Pop Art and Latin American visual traditions.
Context
Marisol, born in Paris to Venezuelan parents and later based in New York City, worked across sculpture and printmaking, often merging popular culture references with motifs drawn from folk traditions. This lithograph exemplifies her interdisciplinary approach, situating her within the broader 1960s artistic currents that questioned conventional boundaries between fine art and everyday visual language.
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.
