Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Peter Saul. It dates from 19 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Peter Saul’s untitled lithograph, produced in 1919, is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work presents a vivid, cartoon‑like scene rendered in bold colors, characteristic of Saul’s graphic approach to printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features two exaggerated figures struggling to lift a large red banner bearing the garbled phrase “HOOMIN CONSURN YO Personal Torment.” The distorted text and the men’s strained expressions combine humor with an unsettling undercurrent, suggesting a critique of human suffering or societal pressures.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the piece utilizes the medium’s capacity for flat, saturated hues and crisp line work. Saul’s stylized, simplified faces and the hand‑drawn lettering emphasize a graphic, almost comic‑book aesthetic while retaining the tactile qualities of the print process.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the lithograph entered the MoMA’s holdings, where it remains on display. The museum acquired the work as part of its effort to document mid‑twentieth‑century American printmaking, though specific acquisition details are not publicly recorded.
Context
Saul’s work emerged during a period when artists explored mass‑media imagery and satirical content. The piece reflects contemporary concerns about the dehumanizing effects of modern life, aligning with broader trends in American art that blended popular culture references with critical commentary.
Artist & collection
Artist
Peter Saul is an American painter. His work has connections with Pop Art, Surrealism, and Expressionism. His early use of pop culture cartoon references in the late 1950s and very early 1960s situates him as one of the…
