Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Nicolás Paris. It dates from 2008 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a series of five lithographs produced in 2008 by Argentine artist Nicolás Paris, is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The works are printed in black line on paper, presenting a minimalist composition that invites close visual inspection.
Subject & Meaning
Each print depicts two abstracted figures rendered solely with line. The upper figure consists of a child's torso and arms folded around the knees, appearing to hover above an undefined surface. Beneath, a pair of legs is caught mid‑stride, the torso absent, suggesting movement without a complete body. The stark reduction emphasizes gesture and the notion of presence versus absence.
Technique & Style
Paris employed traditional lithographic processes, drawing directly onto limestone plates with greasy media before transferring the image onto paper. The resulting prints rely on clean, continuous lines without shading, aligning the works with a contemporary minimalist aesthetic that foregrounds form and spatial ambiguity.
History & Provenance
Created in 2008, the five‑part series entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its completion, reflecting MoMA’s interest in contemporary printmaking practices. The works have remained in the museum’s holdings, occasionally featured in exhibitions exploring line drawing and the evolution of lithography.
Context
The prints belong to a period when Paris explored reductionist drawing, stripping figures to essential contours. This approach resonates with broader trends in early‑21st‑century art that prioritize conceptual clarity and the exploration of space through minimal means.
Artist & collection
