Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by R. B. Kitaj. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1966, this untitled work by R. B. Kitaj consists of a collage assembled from assorted paper fragments—newspaper cuttings, ticket stubs, typed excerpts—affixed to a single sheet. The composition presents a dense, overlapping surface where some elements intersect like a cluttered desk while others stand apart, inviting viewers to navigate a visual archive of everyday ephemera.
Subject & Meaning
The collage incorporates fragments of text that hint at cultural references, including the names “Mahler” and “baseball,” though the legibility is partial. By juxtaposing these disparate items, Kitaj suggests a personal or collective memory without offering a definitive narrative, leaving interpretation open to the viewer’s own associations.
Technique & Style
Kitaj employed a cut‑and‑paste method, physically excising real printed material and reassembling it on the support. The work relies on the tactile quality of paper and the visual tension created by overlapping layers, echoing the assemblage practices of mid‑century artists who explored the boundaries between drawing, painting, and found objects.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in post‑war American art that engages with mixed‑media experimentation and the artist’s broader oeuvre during the 1960s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ronald Brooks Kitaj was an American artist who spent much of his life in England.
