Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Shirley Goldfarb. It dates from 1969 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1969, this lithograph by Shirley Goldfarb is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It is a monochromatic print composed entirely of thick, undulating yellow lines, with no representational forms or compositional structure beyond the rhythm of the strokes. The work exemplifies the artist’s engagement with abstraction and materiality through the lithographic process.
Subject & Meaning
The piece resists narrative or symbolic interpretation, focusing instead on the physical presence of pigment and gesture. The wavy lines suggest movement or energy without referencing external subjects. Its lack of form invites attention to the act of marking itself, emphasizing sensation over representation.
Technique & Style
Goldfarb employed lithography, a planographic method in which the image is drawn directly onto a stone or metal plate with a greasy medium. The ink adheres only to the drawn areas, transferring cleanly to paper under pressure. The uneven, layered strokes reflect the spontaneity of hand-drawn marks, preserved through the print’s mechanical reproduction.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting institutional interest in postwar American printmaking. Goldfarb’s practice during this period often explored the limits of abstraction in print media, aligning with broader experimental trends in the late 1960s.
Context
Emerging during a time when artists were redefining printmaking beyond reproduction, Goldfarb’s work responded to movements like Process Art and Color Field painting. Her use of a single hue and gestural mark-making aligned with contemporaries seeking to prioritize material presence and sensory experience over traditional composition.
Legacy
This lithograph contributes to a broader reevaluation of print as a medium for expressive abstraction rather than illustration. Goldfarb’s restrained approach—using minimal elements to generate visual intensity—has influenced subsequent generations of printmakers interested in the autonomy of mark and color.
Artist & collection
