Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Philip Guston. It dates from 1965 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 1965 screenprint on plexiglass by Philip Guston, belongs to a small portfolio of four similar works. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s exploration of abstract, gestural forms through printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of irregular, overlapping black shapes set against a light field. Though abstract, the blobs suggest ambiguous figures or faces, inviting viewers to contemplate the tension between spontaneity and intentionality.
Technique & Style
Guston employed a screen‑printing process, forcing ink through stencils onto a plexiglass surface. This method yields crisp edges and uniform color fields while preserving the painterly, uneven quality of the shapes, reflecting his interest in merging graphic precision with expressive mark‑making.
History & Provenance
Created in 1965, the work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings as part of its mid‑century American print collection. It remains catalogued as a representative example of Guston’s print output during a period of stylistic transition.
Context
During the mid‑1960s, Guston shifted from abstract expressionist gestures toward more figurative and cartoonish imagery. Untitled captures this transitional moment, balancing abstract blobs with hints of recognizable forms, and aligns with his broader investigation of visual language across media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philip Guston was a Canadian and American painter, printmaker, muralist and draftsman.
