Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Tom Wesselmann. It dates from 1969 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Executed in the flat, graphic language typical of pop art, the work presents a stylized, reclining nude rendered in vivid, unmodulated color fields.
Created in 1969, this untitled screenprint by American artist Tom Wesselmann belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Executed in the flat, graphic language typical of pop art, the work presents a stylized, reclining nude rendered in vivid, unmodulated color fields. The composition balances a patterned blanket, a pillow, and decorative elements that together form a striking, contemporary visual statement.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a nude woman lying on a yellow‑and‑black checked blanket, one arm propped on a pillow. Above her, red blossoms are suspended against a blue wall, while a small orange object rests on her abdomen. The juxtaposition of the human form with decorative motifs reflects Wesselmann’s ongoing interest in the intersection of the body, consumer imagery, and everyday design.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the image relies on solid blocks of color without gradation or texture, emphasizing flatness and graphic clarity. The limited palette—primarily red, blue, orange, yellow, and black—creates a bold visual contrast reminiscent of commercial printing processes. This approach aligns with pop art’s embrace of mass‑media aesthetics and its rejection of traditional painterly depth.
History & Provenance
Tom Wesselmann, a prominent figure in the pop art movement, produced this work during a period when he was expanding his practice beyond painting into collage and sculpture. Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, the print has remained in the institution’s holdings, serving as a representative example of Wesselmann’s printmaking output and his contribution to late‑1960s American pop art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas K. Wesselmann (February 23, 1931 – December 17, 2004) was an American artist associated with the pop art movement who worked in painting, collage and sculpture.
