Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Mark di Suvero. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1967 etching by Mark di Suvero, part of a mixed-media print portfolio. It combines abstract visual elements with direct political text, reflecting the artist’s engagement with the social unrest of the Vietnam War era. The work is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies di Suvero’s shift from sculpture to print as a medium for urgent expression.
Subject & Meaning
The print confronts viewers with a barrage of capitalized phrases targeting President Lyndon B. Johnson, including 'MURDERER' and 'stop this war.' These words, densely layered and chaotic, transform the page into a visual protest. The absence of formal composition amplifies the raw emotion, positioning the work as an unfiltered outcry against state violence and military intervention.
Technique & Style
Di Suvero employed etching to create stark, inked lines that contrast with the hand-drawn, almost frantic text. Jagged black forms on the left evoke structural fragments, while the right side is dominated by overlapping, irregular script. The manual intensity of the handwriting suggests immediacy, blurring the line between artistic mark-making and political manifest.
History & Provenance
Created in 1967, Untitled was produced as part of a limited portfolio of prints made during a period of heightened political activism. Di Suvero, known primarily for large-scale steel sculptures, turned to printmaking to reach broader audiences with anti-war messages. The work entered MoMA’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional recognition of its cultural urgency.
Context
The print emerged amid widespread public dissent over U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Artists increasingly used print media to bypass traditional galleries and distribute political statements. Di Suvero’s choice of etching—a medium associated with precision—was subverted here to convey disorder, mirroring the societal fractures of the time.
Legacy
Untitled stands as an early example of an artist merging abstract visual language with direct political rhetoric in print form. Its influence can be seen in later activist art that prioritizes emotional immediacy over polished aesthetics. The work remains a testament to how printmaking became a vital tool for dissent in the late 20th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marco Polo di Suvero, better known as Mark di Suvero, is an abstract expressionist sculptor and 2010 National Medal of Arts recipient.
