Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by South Africa United Democratic Front (UDF). It dates from 1984 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
This painting shows a screenprinted poster from 1984.
It's a simple design with text and images.
The text says "One Year of United Action" which suggests it was made for a specific event or campaign.
To learn more about the style and technique used in this poster, look at the technique of screenprinting, similar to the works at the museum: The Museum of Modern Art.
Overview
Untitled is a 1984 screen‑printed poster produced by the United Democratic Front, a South African anti‑apartheid coalition. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is catalogued as a print rather than a painting.
Subject & Meaning
The poster’s central inscription reads “One Year of United Action,” indicating its function as a commemorative or promotional piece for a specific campaign or anniversary organized by the Front. The straightforward graphic layout underscores a collective political message rather than an individual artistic narrative.
Technique & Style
Executed through screen printing, the image employs flat areas of colour and bold typographic elements typical of activist graphics of the period. The method allows for rapid reproduction, facilitating wide distribution of the political statement across diverse audiences.
History & Provenance
Created amid the heightened resistance to apartheid in the mid‑1980s, the poster reflects the United Democratic Front’s mobilising efforts. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition in the late 20th century, joining other works that document social movements through graphic media.
Artist & collection
Artist
South Africa United Democratic Front (UDF)
This was art as resistance, made by ordinary people who couldn’t show their faces.
