Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Tauba Auerbach. It dates from 2011 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
This print is one of eighteen double-sided screenprints from a 2011 portfolio by Tauba Auerbach. Each sheet in the series explores formal variations of a single abstract glyph, printed in monochrome. The work belongs to The Museum of Modern Art’s collection and reflects Auerbach’s broader interest in systems of visual language, where form and meaning remain deliberately ambiguous.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a symmetrical glyph composed of four curved lines forming a square-like structure, centered on a white field. Though it resembles a stylized letter or ancient symbol, no linguistic or cultural reference is confirmed. The ambiguity invites viewers to consider the boundaries between script and sign, suggesting language as a structure rather than a fixed system of communication.
Technique & Style
Auerbach employed screenprinting to achieve precise, flat planes of dark grey ink on paper. The technique’s mechanical consistency contrasts with the organic curves of the glyph, creating a tension between control and fluidity. The limited palette and minimalist composition emphasize form over narrative, aligning with her interest in reducing visual elements to their structural essence.
History & Provenance
Created in 2011, the portfolio was produced as a limited edition, with each print treated as an independent object despite its serial nature. The Museum of Modern Art acquired one impression as part of its ongoing documentation of contemporary printmaking practices. The work’s inclusion reflects institutional recognition of Auerbach’s contribution to expanded notions of the printed image.
Context
Auerbach’s work emerged within a broader artistic dialogue concerned with semiotics, typography, and the materiality of language.
Auerbach’s work emerged within a broader artistic dialogue concerned with semiotics, typography, and the materiality of language. In this series, she builds on precedents from conceptual art and concrete poetry, stripping symbols of their conventional meanings to examine how visual patterns generate interpretation. The project aligns with her investigations into order, repetition, and the limits of representation.
Legacy
This print contributes to a sustained body of work that challenges assumptions about how meaning is encoded in visual signs. By isolating a single glyph across multiple iterations, Auerbach invites reconsideration of the relationship between form and signification. Her approach has influenced contemporary printmakers and conceptual artists exploring the intersection of language and abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tauba Auerbach (born 1981) is a visual artist working in many disciplines including painting, artists' books, sculpture, and weaving who lives and works in New York.
