Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Wifredo Lam. It dates from 1947 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
If you're interested in learning more about the technique used to create this image, you might want to look up lithography.
This image is a lithograph by Wifredo Lam, featuring a central figure with a large head and multiple arms and legs. The figure is surrounded by smaller creatures and abstract shapes, all rendered in a bold, graphic style. The background is a warm yellow, with a red border around the central image.
The lithograph is part of a portfolio of five etchings and two lithographs, created by Lam in 1947. The image is held at The Museum of Modern Art.
If you're interested in learning more about the technique used to create this image, you might want to look up lithography.
Overview
Created in 1947, this lithograph by Cuban artist Wifredo Lam forms part of a seven‑work portfolio that also includes five etchings and another lithograph. The piece is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies Lam’s characteristic synthesis of Afro‑Cuban iconography with modernist visual language.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the composition stands a composite figure with an oversized head and multiple limbs, surrounded by smaller, ambiguous creatures and abstract forms. The arrangement suggests a mythic or spiritual tableau, echoing Lam’s interest in Afro‑Cuban religious symbolism and the hybrid identities he sought to portray.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the image relies on a bold, graphic treatment of line and flat colour. A warm yellow field forms the background, while a red border frames the central scene, enhancing the stark contrast between figure and ground typical of Lam’s printmaking practice.
History & Provenance
The work was produced during Lam’s post‑World‑War II period, a time when he was actively exhibiting in Europe and the United States. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, joining other prints that document his exploration of print media.
Context
Lam’s printmaking was informed by his connections with avant‑garde figures such as Pablo Picasso and Frida Kahlo, whose modernist approaches intersected with his own investigations of Caribbean cultural heritage. The portfolio’s mix of etchings, engravings, and lithographs reflects his experimental engagement with multiple print techniques.
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…
