Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Robert Mangold. It dates from 1990 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1990, this untitled screenprint by American minimalist Robert Mangold is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work consists of a stark white field supporting a dark brown square, within which a thin black oval is drawn off‑center. The composition is reduced to elementary forms, emphasizing balance and spatial tension.
Subject & Meaning
The piece isolates two geometric elements—a square and an oval—arranged so that the oval’s upper edge leans toward the square’s right side. By limiting visual information to shape and placement, Mangold invites viewers to consider the relationship between interior and exterior space, as well as the subtle shift created by the oval’s asymmetrical positioning.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the work employs flat areas of pigment without visible brushwork. The dark brown square and the black line that defines the oval are rendered in uniform tones, reflecting Mangold’s characteristic restraint and his focus on precise, clean edges. The single continuous line that forms the oval underscores the artist’s interest in minimal visual language.
History & Provenance
Robert Mangold, born in 1937, has been a prominent figure in minimalist art since the 1960s. This particular screenprint entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, becoming a representative example of Mangold’s print practice during the late twentieth century and illustrating his ongoing exploration of geometric abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Mangold (born October 12, 1937) is an American minimalist artist. His son is the film director, producer and screenwriter James Mangold.
