Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Raymond Saunders. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
You see a textured, layered image made of printed shapes, torn paper, and dark, scratchy marks that look like handwriting or graffiti.
You see a textured, layered image made of printed shapes, torn paper, and dark, scratchy marks that look like handwriting or graffiti. Bits of text peek through, but they’re hard to read, like pages ripped from a notebook or newspaper.
This print is part of a bigger set of artworks made in 1975 to mark 200 years of American history. Saunders often mixed drawing, printmaking, and collage to question how stories get told — and who gets left out. He used everyday materials to challenge what counts as art.
If you want to see more work that mixes words and images in bold, personal ways, look up artist: Raymond Saunders.
Overview
Untitled is a mixed-media print created by Raymond Saunders in 1975, combining lithograph, screenprint, and collage elements. It is part of a portfolio that showcases the artist's experimental approach to printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The work features a layered, textured image with printed shapes, torn paper, and handwritten or graffiti-like marks, incorporating fragments of text that are difficult to decipher. Saunders' use of everyday materials and mixed media challenges traditional notions of art and storytelling.
Technique & Style
Saunders employed a range of techniques, including lithography, screenprinting, and collage, to create a complex, visually dynamic image. The incorporation of found text and assemblage elements reflects his interest in questioning the ways stories are told and represented.
Context
Untitled was created as part of a portfolio commemorating 200 years of American history, a context that likely influenced Saunders' exploration of themes related to narrative and representation.
Legacy
Saunders' innovative approach to combining words and images has been influential, and his work continues to be relevant to artists interested in experimental and socially engaged practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Raymond Jennings Saunders (October 28, 1934 – July 19, 2025) was an American visual artist known for his multimedia paintings which often have sociopolitical undertones, and which incorporate assemblage, drawing, collage and found text.
