Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Matthew Abbott. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1997 print by American artist Matthew Abbott, held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It belongs to a portfolio of five works that explore different printmaking processes, ranging from aquatint and embossing to photogravure, etching, photo‑etching with woodcut, and screenprint with collage elements.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of a circular form divided into irregular, angular segments. Deep purples, pale blues, and a rust‑colored outline define the wedges, which interlock imperfectly, suggesting a fragmented or disordered unity. The tactile dotted surfaces within some sections add a physical dimension that invites close inspection.
Technique & Style
Abbott combined aquatint—a method that yields soft, grainy tonal washes—with embossing, which raises portions of the paper to create a subtle relief. The raised dots are produced by the embossing stage, offering a textural contrast to the flat, muted color fields of the aquatint background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1997, the work was acquired by MoMA as part of its ongoing effort to document contemporary printmaking. It remains in the museum’s permanent collection, where it is displayed alongside other experimental prints from the late twentieth century.
Context
The piece reflects a period when artists were increasingly experimenting with hybrid print techniques, merging traditional intaglio processes with newer methods such as photogravure and screenprinting. Abbott’s portfolio exemplifies this exploratory spirit, each print employing a distinct technical approach while maintaining a cohesive visual language.
Artist & collection
