Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Sherrie Levine. It dates from 1986 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
It turns a found image into something new without changing the original much.
This print looks like a black-and-white photo of a tree. The branches twist up like ink on white paper. The edges blur where the plate wore down over time.
Levine made this by copying a 1912 photo then reprinting it. She left the grain and scratches in on purpose. It turns a found image into something new without changing the original much.
You can see the real print at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Overview
Untitled is a 1986 print by Sherrie Levine, created using aquatint and photogravure techniques. It is a reinterpretation of a 1912 photograph.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a tree with twisting branches, evoking the appearance of ink on paper. The image is derived from a pre-existing photograph, which Levine reworked to create a new entity while retaining the original's character.
Technique & Style
Levine employed a combination of aquatint and photogravure to recreate the 1912 photograph. She intentionally preserved the grain and scratches, allowing the wear on the plate to blur the edges and add texture to the image.
History & Provenance
The print is held at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, where it is available for viewing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sherrie Levine is an American photographer, painter, and conceptual artist. Some of her work consists of exact photographic reproductions of the work of other photographers such as Walker Evans, Eliot Porter and Edward Weston.
