Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Martin Moratillo. It dates from 2000 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2000, this black‑and‑white woodcut by Martin Moratillo forms part of a larger series of thirty‑one mixed‑media prints. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Executed in the traditional relief‑printing method, the image presents a densely composed, night‑like tableau that invites close visual examination.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts two human figures amid a tangle of broken tools, miscellaneous objects, and a flag‑bearing cart. One figure crouches over the overloaded cart, while the other lies prone, reaching toward the scene. The stark contrast of light and shadow, together with the chaotic setting, suggests themes of labor, struggle, and the precariousness of survival.
Technique & Style
Moratillo employed the woodcut process, carving sharp, angular lines into a wooden block and printing them with dense, inky blacks. The resulting high contrast emphasizes the jagged forms that resemble ruins or shadows. The artist’s handling of line and negative space creates a sense of movement and tension, characteristic of contemporary printmaking that revisits traditional techniques.
History & Provenance
The print was produced as part of a portfolio of thirty‑one mixed‑media works assembled around the turn of the millennium. Shortly after its completion, the piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Its inclusion in MoMA’s holdings reflects the institution’s interest in contemporary print practices and the artist’s contribution to the medium.
Artist & collection
