Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Rita Eloul Letendre. It dates from 1965 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The artist used a printing method called lithography, where ink sticks to a flat stone or plate.
This painting is mostly red and black. You see a dark shape in the middle—maybe a person or object—but it’s not clear. The background is a deep red with sharp, jagged lines cutting across it. The edges feel rough, like something was drawn fast or scraped into the surface.
The artist used a printing method called lithography, where ink sticks to a flat stone or plate. This piece doesn’t belong to a big art movement, but it’s from 1965.
If you like bold colors and abstract shapes, check out lithography to see how it works.
Overview
Created in 1965, Rita Letendre’s untitled lithograph presents a stark composition of deep red fields intersected by jagged black lines. A central, ambiguous dark shape emerges amid the geometric tension, suggesting a figure or object without clear definition. The work’s limited palette and abrupt marks convey a sense of immediacy, characteristic of Letendre’s abstract visual language.
Subject & Meaning
The print does not depict a specific narrative; instead, it explores the interplay of form and color. The central silhouette, rendered in black against a red background, invites viewers to consider the tension between presence and absence, while the sharp lines fragment the space, reflecting Letendre’s interest in dynamic, non‑representational expression.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, Letendre transferred ink from a prepared stone or metal plate onto paper, allowing for both fluid washes and crisp, linear marks. The contrast of bold red and black, combined with the rough, scraped edges, underscores a gestural approach that aligns with mid‑century abstract tendencies while retaining a personal, tactile quality.
History & Provenance
Associated with the Montreal collectives Les Automatistes and the Plasticiens, Letendre’s practice spanned painting, murals, and printmaking. This 1965 lithograph, reflecting the modernist currents of Quebec and broader North America, entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s representation of post‑war Canadian abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rita Letendre, LL. D. (November 1, 1928 – November 20, 2021) was a Canadian painter, muralist, and printmaker associated with Les Automatistes and the Plasticiens. She was an Officer of the Order of Canada and a…
