Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Roderick Mead. It dates from 1954 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1954, this print by American artist Roderick Mead combines etching and engraving to depict a stylized herd of horses amid a stark landscape. The composition is dominated by angular forms that suggest both natural elements and a graphic, cut‑paper quality, while the muted sky recedes behind jagged trees and a rocky ground.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a group of horses standing in an open field, surrounded by tall, sharply defined trees and scattered leaves. The animals are rendered with a rigid, almost abstract posture, emphasizing form over realistic depiction and inviting viewers to consider the tension between the natural world and its geometric abstraction.
Technique & Style
Mead employed traditional intaglio methods, using acid to bite lines into metal plates for the etching and employing hand‑engraving to sharpen edges and add texture. Layered cross‑hatching builds the illusion of fur and bark, while the stark contrasts of light and shadow heighten the piece’s graphic, angular aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Roderick Mead (1900–1970) was known chiefly for his prints, though his oeuvre also included oils and watercolors.
Roderick Mead (1900–1970) was known chiefly for his prints, though his oeuvre also included oils and watercolors. Born in South Orange, New Jersey, he trained after attending Newark Academy and later achieved representation in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. This particular work entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view.
Artist & collection
Artist
Roderick Fletcher Mead (1900–1971) was an American artist. Mead was best known for his engravings, but his work encompassed a number of media including oil paintings, prints, etchings, woodcut and also watercolors. He…
