Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Karin Székessy Paul Wunderlich. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. This work is a portfolio of three lithographs and three photographs, all produced in 1968 by Karin Székessy and Paul Wunderlich.
About this work
This black-and-white photo shows a man in a suit, smiling while holding a cigarette. He’s sitting at a table with a hat, a napkin, and a cup. Behind him, a dark, textured wall looks like it’s covered in leaves or vines.
The photo is part of a set of three images made in 1968. The artist used a mix of photos and prints to create it.
Check out lithography to see how artists print images like this.
Overview
This work is a portfolio of three lithographs and three photographs, all produced in 1968 by Karin Székessy and Paul Wunderlich. The set combines photographic imagery with printed graphic elements, reflecting a collaborative approach to printmaking. It is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, where it is presented as a unified experimental series rather than a single image.
Subject & Meaning
One photograph depicts a man in a suit, seated at a table, smiling while holding a cigarette. A hat, napkin, and cup rest nearby; behind him, a wall textured like foliage suggests an ambiguous, possibly symbolic environment. The scene’s casual intimacy contrasts with the formal attire, hinting at tension between public persona and private moment, though no explicit narrative is defined.
Technique & Style
The images were printed using lithographic processes, allowing for tonal variation and surface texture not typical of standard photography.
The portfolio merges photographic realism with lithographic abstraction. The images were printed using lithographic processes, allowing for tonal variation and surface texture not typical of standard photography. The integration of hand-printed elements with photographic content blurs boundaries between documentation and artistic intervention, characteristic of late 1960s experimental print practices.
History & Provenance
Created in 1968, the portfolio was acquired by The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its production. It reflects the artists’ engagement with postwar European print culture and their interest in hybrid media. No earlier exhibition or private ownership history is documented, suggesting direct institutional acquisition following its completion.
Context
Emerging during a period of artistic experimentation in Europe, the work aligns with broader trends that questioned traditional distinctions between photography and printmaking. Artists were increasingly combining media to challenge singular authorship and explore psychological undercurrents in everyday scenes. Székessy and Wunderlich’s collaboration fits within this context of interdisciplinary inquiry.
Legacy
The portfolio remains a modest but significant example of late 1960s print experimentation. While not widely reproduced, it contributes to understanding how artists used mixed media to destabilize photographic truth and expand the possibilities of the printed image. Its presence in MoMA’s collection affirms its role in the institutional recognition of hybrid print practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karin Székessy Paul Wunderlich
Karin Székessy Paul Wunderlich (1927–2010) was a German artist.
