Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Nikolai Kupreianov in 1917.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Nikolai Kupreianov , 1917

Untitled is an ink print by Nikolai Kupreianov. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

You see a tiny wood engraving of a village: a rainbow arches over a mill, a cow grazes, and trees lean in the wind.

You see a tiny wood engraving of a village: a rainbow arches over a mill, a cow grazes, and trees lean in the wind. The lines are rough, almost like a sketch carved into wood.

Kupreianov made this in 1917, the year Russia’s revolution began. The scene feels quiet, but the date gives it weight—like a snapshot of life just before everything changed.

If you like how the lines feel alive, look up the technique of engraving.

Overview

This small wood engraving, untitled, presents a rural tableau rendered in stark, sketch‑like lines. A rainbow spans a modest mill, a cow grazes nearby, and trees bend as if under wind. The composition is compact, its details rendered with a raw, tactile quality that emphasizes the immediacy of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a tranquil village moment, juxtaposing natural elements—a rainbow and grazing livestock—with human architecture. Though the scene appears serene, its creation during a period of profound social upheaval invites contemplation of everyday life persisting amid looming change, offering a quiet counterpoint to the turbulence of its era.

Technique & Style

Executed as a wood engraving, the work relies on incised lines cut directly into a wooden block, producing a rough, almost improvised appearance. The artist’s hand is evident in the uneven strokes, which convey movement and texture, while the high contrast between black and white accentuates the starkness of the rural setting.

History & Provenance

Created in 1917, the year the Russian Revolution began, the piece reflects its historical moment. It entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings, providing scholars and visitors access to an early twentieth‑century Russian print.