Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Richard A. Florsheim. It dates from 1951 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. This work is the cover of a portfolio containing twelve lithographs by Richard A.
About this work
Overview
This work is the cover of a portfolio containing twelve lithographs by Richard A. Florsheim, produced in 1951. It is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. The design is deliberately restrained, featuring a light gray field bordered in white. No imagery appears beyond typography, emphasizing the printed matter within rather than the cover itself as a standalone image.
Subject & Meaning
The cover bears three lines of centered text: 'Each Man in His Time,' followed by 'A Portfolio of Twelve Lithographs,' and 'By Richard A. Florsheim.' The phrase suggests a contemplative rhythm to human experience, aligning with the portfolio’s thematic focus on individual perception. The absence of illustration invites the viewer to consider the content within as the true subject.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the cover relies on precise ink application to achieve clean, sharp typography against a muted ground. The minimal palette—gray and white—reflects mid-century modernist sensibilities favoring restraint. The centered alignment and uniform typeface create a sense of order, reinforcing the portfolio’s structured nature as a curated sequence of prints.
History & Provenance
Created in 1951, the portfolio was produced during a period of renewed interest in printmaking among American artists. Florsheim, known for his graphic precision, designed this cover to serve as a neutral frame for the twelve lithographs inside. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, recognized for its typographic clarity and conceptual simplicity.
Context
In the early 1950s, artists and publishers increasingly treated print portfolios as cohesive artistic statements rather than mere collections. Florsheim’s cover aligns with this trend, echoing the quiet elegance of design principles promoted by institutions like the Institute of Design in Chicago. Its austerity contrasts with the expressive potential of the lithographs it encloses.
Legacy
Though Florsheim’s broader career remains less documented, this cover endures as an example of postwar American print culture’s emphasis on typographic integrity. Its understated form continues to be referenced in discussions of mid-century graphic design, particularly in how it frames artistic content without overshadowing it.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard A. Florsheim (1916–1979) was an American painter, lithographer, and sculptor. His work is in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
