Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Sue Fuller. It dates from 1945 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Sue Fuller’s 1945 print, catalogued simply as Untitled, combines engraving and etching techniques to produce a monochrome image now in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The work presents a dense, interlaced arrangement of vegetal forms rendered in stark black and white.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a chaotic tangle of leaves, thorns and branches whose overlapping lines obscure individual boundaries. A central knot of vines gives way to jagged extensions that radiate outward, suggesting a struggle between growth and restraint within an untamed natural environment.
Technique & Style
Fuller employed precise, incised lines to generate texture, while the surrounding edges remain irregular and rough. The juxtaposition of sharp detailing with uneven margins creates a sense of movement, as if the plant elements are pushing against the limits of the metal plate.
History & Provenance
Created in the immediate post‑World War II period, the print entered MoMA’s holdings as part of the museum’s mid‑century acquisitions of American printmaking. Its inclusion reflects the institution’s interest in experimental graphic processes of the era.
Context
Fuller’s practice often explored the interplay of line and surface, and this work aligns with mid‑twentieth‑century investigations into abstraction derived from natural motifs. The piece resonates with contemporary trends that favored tactile, hand‑crafted qualities in print media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sue Fuller was an American sculptor, draughtsman, author, teacher and printmaker who created three-dimensional works with thread.
