Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Richard Long. It dates from 1990 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Some words describe nature—like *lava stone*, *cactus blooms*, *dry wash*—while others are actions: *skipping*, *rustling*, *snapping*.
This print is a tall, narrow black-and-white list of words. The words are stacked vertically, each on its own line. Some words describe nature—like *lava stone*, *cactus blooms*, *dry wash*—while others are actions: *skipping*, *rustling*, *snapping*. The background looks like brushstrokes or shadows, messy and uneven.
The words seem to be notes from a long walk in a desert. The artist wrote them down as he went, mixing sights and sounds. The title at the bottom says it’s from a 60-minute walk in Texas in 1990.
If this style of art interests you, look up lithography.
Overview
Created in 1990, this untitled work by English artist Richard Long merges lithography with screen‑printing. The piece consists of a tall, narrow vertical format in stark black and white, presenting a sequential list of single‑word entries. Each term occupies its own line, set against a background of irregular brush‑like marks that suggest texture and movement.
Subject & Meaning
The textual content reads like a field journal, recording observations from a one‑hour desert walk in Texas. Words such as “lava stone,” “cactus blooms,” and “dry wash” denote the landscape, while verbs like “skipping,” “rustling,” and “snapping” evoke sounds and actions experienced during the trek. The juxtaposition of sight and sound invites viewers to imagine the walk’s sensory rhythm.
Technique & Style
Long employs both lithographic and screen‑print processes, allowing fine line work to coexist with broader, uneven tonal fields. The lithograph provides the crisp, repeatable lettering, while the screen‑print contributes the gestural, shadow‑like background. This combination creates a layered surface where the text remains legible yet is softened by the painterly marks, reflecting the artist’s interest in merging documentation with abstraction.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation, becoming part of MoMA’s holdings of contemporary printmaking. As a representative example of Long’s practice in the late 20th century, it illustrates his shift from large‑scale land interventions to more portable, conceptual objects that record his walks and the environments he encounters.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Richard Julian Long (born 2 June 1945) is an English sculptor, painter, photographer, and one of the best-known British land artists.
