Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Rosalind Bengelsdorf. It dates from 1937 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1937, this lithograph by Rosalind Bengelsdorf forms part of a series of thirty‑one prints produced using the same method. The work is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its composition consists of stark black lines set against a light ground, forming a simplified landscape that includes a bird, a curved form and abstracted natural or architectural elements.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a solitary bird perched on a gently curving shape that suggests either a wave or a small vessel. Above the bird, a sinuous line evokes water or a distant mountain ridge, while jagged, angular marks hint at trees, buildings, or other vertical structures. The minimal vocabulary of line invites viewers to contemplate the relationship between the bird and its ambiguous environment.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work relies on the traditional stone‑or‑metal printing process in which a grease‑based design is transferred to a flat surface and then inked. Bengelsdorf’s handling of line is precise and economical, employing a limited palette of black on a light field to achieve a graphic clarity characteristic of mid‑century American printmaking.
History & Provenance
The piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection after its creation, joining a portfolio of thirty‑one lithographs that document a productive period in Bengelsdorf’s career. The artist’s signature, "R. Bengelsdorf," appears in the lower corner, confirming authorship and providing a point of reference for the work’s cataloguing and exhibition history.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rosalind Bengelsdorf was an American painter, art critic and educator. She is also known as Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne and as Rosalind Browne.
