Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Sue Williamson. It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Sue Williamson’s 1984 work, titled Untitled, is a mixed-media print that combines photoetching, screen‑printed elements, and colored paper. The piece is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s interest in layering photographic imagery with graphic interventions.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the composition is a black‑and‑white photograph of a long‑haired woman seated on a rock, cradling a small animal. The name “Amina Cachalia” appears beneath the image, identifying the figure and suggesting a focus on personal or political identity within a broader social context.
Technique & Style
Williamson employs a photoetching process to transfer the photographic image onto a metal plate, then integrates cut‑and‑pasted screen‑printed fragments and colored paper. The surrounding border features vivid orange, yellow and blue geometric patterns, while two diminutive black‑and‑white portraits occupy the corners, creating a juxtaposition of archival and contemporary visual languages.
History & Provenance
Created in 1984, the work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s commitment to documenting experimental print practices of the late twentieth century.
Context
The piece emerges from a period when South African artists like Williamson were exploring issues of race, gender, and resistance through hybrid media. By merging documentary photography with graphic design elements, the work dialogues with both activist imagery and modernist abstraction.
Artist & collection
