Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Matthew Monahan. It dates from 2009 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
This is a plain green square with black text in the middle. The words say "MATTHEW MONAHAN" in capital letters. Tiny print at the bottom reads "Edition Jacob Samuel Santa Monica 2009."
This is actually the cover of a set of prints, not a single painting. The artist’s name is the only thing shown—no images inside are visible here.
If you like this kind of minimal art, look up etching.
Overview
The work functions as a container rather than a standalone image, directing attention to the process and context of the prints within.
Untitled is a portfolio cover composed of ten etchings and aquatints with chine collé, produced by Matthew Monahan in 2009. It is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The exterior presents a minimalist design: a solid green field with centered black lettering identifying the artist. Beneath, a small inscription notes the edition’s publisher and year. The work functions as a container rather than a standalone image, directing attention to the process and context of the prints within.
Subject & Meaning
The absence of imagery on the cover shifts focus from visual representation to authorship and materiality. By displaying only the artist’s name, the work interrogates the role of identity in printmaking and the expectations surrounding artistic signature. The plainness challenges conventional notions of content, suggesting that the act of creation and its documentation may hold equal weight to the images themselves.
Technique & Style
The cover employs etching and aquatint techniques, refined through chine collé, a method that bonds thin paper to a heavier support for delicate tonal effects. Despite the complexity of the interior prints, the exterior is deliberately restrained—monochrome, unadorned, and geometric. This contrast between labor-intensive interior work and austere exterior reflects a conceptual interest in concealment and revelation within the printed medium.
History & Provenance
Produced in 2009 in collaboration with printer Jacob Samuel in Santa Monica, the portfolio was issued in a limited edition. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional interest in contemporary printmaking that prioritizes conceptual rigor over traditional imagery. The work’s provenance is tied to the artist’s broader exploration of authorship and the materiality of printed objects.
Context
This piece emerged during a period when contemporary artists were re-examining the boundaries of printmaking, often using minimalism to question the commodification of art. Monahan’s choice to obscure the interior content aligns with broader trends in late 2000s conceptual art, where the frame, label, or packaging became as significant as the image it enclosed, inviting viewers to consider the infrastructure of artistic production.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to an ongoing dialogue about the role of the printed object in contemporary art. Its unembellished form has influenced subsequent artists who treat the portfolio as a curated space rather than a mere vessel. The work remains a quiet reference point in discussions on authorship, editioning, and the material presence of prints beyond their visual content.
Artist & collection
Artist
Matthew Monahan is an American contemporary artist based in Los Angeles. He works in a variety of artistic disciplines that incorporate mixed media and found objects such as "foam, folded and crumbled construction…
