Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Sigmar Polke. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 2004, this work consists of a collection of forty individual prints that combine screenprinting and lithography.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2004, this work consists of a collection of forty individual prints that combine screenprinting and lithography. Each piece is modest in size, inviting close inspection, and together they form a cohesive portfolio that exemplifies the artist’s interest in the possibilities of print media during the later stage of his career.
Technique & Style
The artist employed both screenprinting, which allows for bold, layered color fields, and lithography, a process that captures subtle tonal variations from a stone or metal plate. By juxtaposing these methods, the prints reveal a dialogue between mechanical reproduction and the unpredictability of chemical reactions, resulting in abstract compositions that emphasize texture and surface.
History & Provenance
The portfolio was produced in the final decades of the creator’s life, a period marked by an intensified focus on experimental printmaking. After its completion, the set entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of post‑war European art.
Context
Within the artist’s broader oeuvre, the work continues a longstanding investigation of perception, materiality, and historical reference. The abstract forms derived from chemical processes echo earlier paintings, while the choice of print media reflects a shift toward reproducibility and the exploration of how technique can alter visual experience.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sigmar Polke (13 February 1941 – 10 June 2010) was a German painter and photographer.
