Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Nancy Manter. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1997, this untitled work is one of a set of forty lithographs produced by American artist Nancy Manter.
Created in 1997, this untitled work is one of a set of forty lithographs produced by American artist Nancy Manter. The piece consists of layered abstract forms rendered in a limited palette of black, white, and orange, with a weathered appearance that suggests ink bleeding through paper. Its composition is non‑representational, inviting viewers to consider the interaction of shape, tone, and surface.
Subject & Meaning
Manter’s practice frequently draws on natural phenomena, and this print continues that inquiry by evoking the fleeting qualities of weather and environmental change. The overlapping shapes and uneven textures suggest movement, disruption, and the transitory nature of atmospheric conditions, while also alluding to broader ideas of interdependence and human experience within a mutable landscape.
Technique & Style
The work was produced using lithography, a printmaking process that allows ink to spread irregularly across the stone or metal plate. This inherent variability yields a rough, almost accidental surface where lines and patches appear both dense and delicate. The resulting visual language is abstract, emphasizing the materiality of the medium rather than depicting recognizable objects.
History & Provenance
Part of a limited portfolio of forty lithographs, the piece reflects Manter’s early career focus on translating natural processes into graphic form. The series was issued in the late 1990s, a period when the artist was establishing her reputation on the East Coast. The print has circulated through private collections and occasional gallery exhibitions, maintaining its status as a representative example of her lithographic output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nancy Manter is an American visual artist based on the East Coast. Her paintings, drawings and photographs of temporal works are inspired by physical processes and properties of the earth and capture qualities such as…
