Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Rufino Tamayo. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1964 lithograph by Rufino Tamayo, part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two elongated, fantastical figures. One, wearing a purple hat, raises an arm as if holding an object; the other, in a yellow-and-red striped outfit, carries a violin. Facial features are reduced to simple black dots and lines, emphasizing the figures' surreal, unnatural quality.
Technique & Style
Tamayo employed bold, vibrant colors (purple, yellow, red) against a dark, subtly shaped background to create visual contrast and draw attention to the figures. Their stretched, slightly distorted bodies reflect the artist's characteristic stylization.
History & Provenance
Created in 1964, the lithograph is currently held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rufino del Carmen Arellanes Tamayo was a Mexican painter of Zapotec heritage, born in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico. Tamayo was active in the mid-20th century in Mexico and New York, painting figurative abstraction with surrealist influences.
