Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Rosemarie Trockel. It dates from 2003 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The artist made it in 2003 using printed paper and staples, which looks cheap but intentional.
This looks like a black-and-white photo of an older person’s face glued onto a collage. The words “MOST NEEDED” are stamped in bold letters at the top, with “No.1 BEAUTY” below in uneven, hand-cut type. The photo is framed by a dark border, and the whole thing is stapled together like a flyer.
The mix of serious text and a plain portrait feels a little funny—like a joke or a protest. The artist made it in 2003 using printed paper and staples, which looks cheap but intentional.
If you like this style, check out Rosemarie Trockel.
Overview
Created in 2003, this untitled work by Rosemarie Trockel consists of five sheets of printed paper that are stapled together, with two additional loose sheets. The composition presents a black‑and‑white photographic portrait of an older individual, framed by a dark border and overlaid with bold stamped text. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The central image is a stark portrait of an elderly face, juxtaposed with the phrases “MOST NEEDED” and “No.1 BEAUTY” rendered in large, uneven lettering. The contrast between the formal portrait and the declarative, almost promotional text invites a reading that oscillates between humor, critique, and commentary on societal standards of value and attractiveness.
Technique & Style
Trockel employs a low‑tech, assemblage approach: printed paper sheets are bound with staples, creating a flyer‑like appearance. The use of black‑and‑white photography, a dark framing border, and hand‑cut type for the text underscores a deliberately modest, almost DIY aesthetic, emphasizing the materiality of the work as part of its conceptual thrust.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 2003 and subsequently entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary practices that blend print media, text, and feminist‑tinged critique.
Context
Trockel’s practice frequently interrogates gendered expectations and the language of advertising. This piece aligns with her broader oeuvre that repurposes everyday objects and printed matter to question cultural narratives surrounding beauty, need, and the commodification of identity.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rosemarie Trockel is a German conceptual artist. She has made drawings, paintings, sculptures, videos and installations, and has worked in mixed media. From 1985, she made pictures using knitting-machines. She is a…
