Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Solange Araujo. It dates from 1978 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, an etching executed in 1978 by Solange Araujo, is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The work presents a compact composition of four animals arranged in two horizontal lines, rendered in stark, uneven lines that give the image a tactile, weathered appearance.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a deer and a bird occupying the upper tier, while a horse and a second bird lie beneath. The juxtaposition of terrestrial and avian forms suggests a quiet, shared resting space, inviting contemplation of animal coexistence and the subtle tensions between movement and stillness.
Technique & Style
Araujo employed traditional intaglio etching methods, varying line weight to suggest texture—thick strokes convey the bulk of fur and musculature, while finer lines delineate feathers. The surface bears the characteristic scratches and irregularities of hand‑pressed copper plates, and the paper’s aged patina enhances the work’s atmospheric depth.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1970s, the piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition shortly after its completion, reflecting the institution’s interest in expanding representation of contemporary printmakers. Its provenance remains documented solely by the museum’s records.
Context
Produced during a period when many artists revisited printmaking as a means of exploring line and surface, Araujo’s etching aligns with broader trends of the 1970s that emphasized materiality and the expressive potential of monochrome media. The work’s animal motif also resonates with a renewed interest in natural subjects among her peers.
Artist & collection
