Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Robert Goodnough. It dates from 1961 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1961, this lithograph by Robert Goodnough is an untitled work that exemplifies the gestural abstraction characteristic of the New York School. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and demonstrates the artist’s engagement with non‑representational visual language during the height of abstract expressionism.
Subject & Meaning
The image consists of dense, intersecting lines and irregular shapes that generate a sense of controlled chaos. Dark, jagged strokes dominate the surface, interspersed with lighter gray areas, suggesting an emphasis on the physical act of mark‑making rather than any figurative reference.
Technique & Style
Goodnough employed traditional lithographic processes, drawing directly onto a smooth stone surface with greasy media before transferring the image to paper. This method yields a combination of crisp edges and soft, smudged tones, allowing the artist to capture both precise and spontaneous gestures within a single print.
History & Provenance
A World War II veteran, Goodnough emerged as a participant in the 9th Street Art Exhibition and subsequent New York Painting and Sculpture Annuals in the 1950s. His involvement with these pivotal shows positioned him within the core of the abstract expressionist movement, leading to the acquisition of this lithograph by MoMA.
Context
The work reflects the broader post‑war shift toward abstraction in American art, where artists sought to convey emotional intensity through gestural forms. Lithography, traditionally a medium for illustration, was adopted by abstract expressionists like Goodnough to explore new possibilities for texture and immediacy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Goodnough (October 23, 1917 – October 2, 2010) was an American abstract expressionist painter.
