Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Peter Saul. It dates from 1995 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Peter Saul's 1995 etching, held by The Museum of Modern Art, depicts a chaotic assemblage of disparate objects on a toilet, characterized by rough, uneven lines suggestive of hasty execution or deliberate expressive scratching.
Subject & Meaning
The print combines incongruous elements: a soft watch (with discernible numbers), a toilet seat, and an ambiguous form resembling either a stuffed animal or a tangle of fabric. The juxtaposition creates a surreal, cluttered scene evoking dreamlike absurdity.
Technique & Style
The etching's visual texture is defined by its rough, uneven lines, implying either rapid creation or the intentional use of a scratching tool to achieve a distinctive, expressive quality.
History & Provenance
Created in 1995, the work is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection. Notably, an inscription below the image titles it as *'soft watch on a toilet'*, offering a direct interpretation of the scene's central elements.
Context
While specific contextual influences are not immediately evident from the work itself, its surreal, dreamlike quality and juxtaposition of everyday objects with a distorted timepiece (the soft watch) invite comparisons to surrealist themes of disrupting reality.
Legacy
As a relatively recent work within Saul's oeuvre, its broader impact or influence on subsequent artistic practices is less documented. However, it reflects Saul's ongoing exploration of the absurd and surreal in everyday life, consistent with his critical approach to societal norms.
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…
