Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Sigmar Polke. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1998, this work by German artist Sigmar Polke combines screenprinting with die‑cut and collage elements. The composition presents two surreal, levitating forms against a dark gray backdrop, rendered in a manner that suggests paper cutouts and layered imagery.
Subject & Meaning
On the left, a distorted yellow leg extends outward, its foot hanging in space, while on the right a circular mirror contains a figure playing a cello, perched on a stark white plinth. The cello player’s face is concealed and the reflected image is intentionally blurred, inviting ambiguity about identity and perception.
Technique & Style
Polke employs a hybrid process: screenprint layers provide photographic‑like surfaces, while die‑cut sections and collage additions introduce tactile, painted marks. This juxtaposition of printed and hand‑applied materials creates a fragmented visual field that challenges conventional representation.
History & Provenance
The piece marks a later stage in Polke’s career, following his 1970s focus on photographic manipulation and his 1980s experiments with chemically driven abstract paintings. It exemplifies his continual shift toward mixed‑media practices, integrating printmaking with sculptural collage.
Context
During the 1990s, Polke’s work often interrogated the boundaries between image and object, employing humor and irony to critique visual culture. This print reflects those concerns, using everyday motifs—a leg, a musical instrument—to destabilize familiar visual cues.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sigmar Polke (13 February 1941 – 10 June 2010) was a German painter and photographer.
