Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Wifredo Lam. It dates from 1952 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1952, this lithograph by Wifredo Lam presents a striking composition of abstract forms rendered in muted browns and deep blacks. Central to the image is a large, winged creature with a beaked head, sharp teeth, and expansive wings that dominate the picture plane, set against a dark brown background that accentuates the lighter shapes.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure combines animalistic and mythic traits, suggesting a hybrid being that evokes Afro‑Cuban spiritual symbolism. Its poised stance and outstretched wings convey a sense of imminent motion, hinting at themes of transformation and the tension between earthly grounding and transcendence.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithographic print, Lam employs layered tonal washes and bold line work to achieve depth within the limited palette. The stylized anatomy and fragmented forms reflect his synthesis of modernist abstraction with Caribbean iconography, a visual language shaped by his encounters with European avant‑garde artists.
History & Provenance
Lam, a Cuban-born painter active throughout the mid‑twentieth century, produced this work during a period of intense exploration of cultural identity. The lithograph entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of mid‑century prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wifredo Óscar de la Concepción Lam y Castilla (Chinese: 林飛龍; Jyutping: lam4 fei1lung4; December 8, 1902 – September 11, 1982), better known as Wifredo Lam, was a Cuban artist who sought to portray and revive the enduring Afro-Cuban spirit…
