Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Robert Mapplethorpe. It dates from 1972 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1972, this untitled screenprint by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.
Created in 1972, this untitled screenprint by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The work consists of three vertically stacked black‑and‑white images framed against a solid black field, each image depicting a fragment of a figure’s face and upper body. The composition is punctuated by a small black dot and an X mark positioned near the right edge of the frame.
Subject & Meaning
The three photographs capture successive views of a single individual: a close‑up of a short‑haired face, a profile turned slightly away, and a lower portion showing a hand grasping an object resembling a guitar. By fragmenting the body across the three panels, the print invites contemplation of identity, performance, and the interplay between presence and abstraction.
Technique & Style
Mapplethorpe employed screenprinting to reproduce the high‑contrast photographic images, emphasizing stark chiaroscuro. The process yields crisp edges and deep blacks that heighten the sculptural quality of light and shadow. The stark tonal range and precise focus are characteristic of Mapplethorpe’s aesthetic, foregrounding form through minimal tonal variation.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the early 1970s, a period when Mapplethorpe was expanding his practice beyond traditional gelatin silver prints. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition in the late 20th century, reflecting the institution’s commitment to documenting the evolution of contemporary photographic media.
Artist & collection
![Untitled [photograph using a slide projection of dopatta and chilli]., by Zarina Bhimji](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/zarina-bhimji--untitled-photograph-using-a-slide-projection-of-dopatta-and--d03dd096ef04d951-w320.webp)
