Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Walter De Maria. It dates from 1974 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The portfolio integrates screenprint, etching, aquatint, and woodcut techniques, reflecting De Maria’s interest in material variation and process.
Walter De Maria produced this work in 1974 as one component of a diverse portfolio containing over sixty printmaking experiments. The portfolio integrates screenprint, etching, aquatint, and woodcut techniques, reflecting De Maria’s interest in material variation and process. This particular piece is a screenprint, distinguished by its stark graphic quality and minimal composition, aligning with his broader artistic focus on reduction and physical presence.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a simplified human face with two large, solid black eyes and a smooth, oval head. Beneath the chin, the word 'AFRICA' is inscribed in irregular, hand-drawn letters. The faint signature 'de maria' appears near the top, almost obscured. The contrast between the childlike drawing and the politically charged word suggests a deliberate tension—between innocence and assertion, simplicity and critique.
Technique & Style
The image was made using screenprint, a method allowing sharp, flat areas of ink. The eyes are rendered in dense black, contrasting with the unprinted paper, while the word 'AFRICA' is applied with uneven pressure, giving it a handmade, urgent quality. De Maria avoided refinement, embracing rawness and repetition across the portfolio. The technique serves the concept: clarity over ornament, presence over detail.
History & Provenance
The full portfolio was produced in 1974 and later acquired by The Museum of Modern Art in New York. De Maria, based in the city, often collaborated with print workshops to explore the limits of traditional media. This work was not intended as a standalone piece but as part of a larger investigation into form, language, and the physicality of the printed surface. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection underscores its significance within his printmaking practice.
Context
Created during a period when De Maria was expanding into large-scale land works, this print reflects his ongoing engagement with elemental forms and symbolic language. The use of 'AFRICA' aligns with 1970s artistic inquiries into identity, colonialism, and representation, though De Maria offered no explicit commentary. The work’s ambiguity invites viewers to consider the weight of a single word placed against a neutral, universal face.
Legacy
This print exemplifies De Maria’s commitment to stripping art to its essentials while embedding layered meaning. Though modest in scale, it resonates within his broader oeuvre—where simplicity becomes a vehicle for quiet resistance. Its inclusion in major collections has ensured its role as a touchstone in discussions of conceptual printmaking and the political potential of minimal imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Walter Joseph De Maria (October 1, 1935 – July 25, 2013) was an American artist, sculptor, illustrator and composer, who lived and worked in New York City.
