Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by William Kentridge. It dates from 2008 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2008, this work is an aquatint and engraving that forms part of a series of thirty prints by South African artist William Kentridge (b. 1955). The image presents a distorted, spiky horse entwined with a rider, rendered in stark dark ink on a light ground. A signature and the notation “NOSE 7” in the lower corner identify it as the seventh piece in the numbered sequence.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes a contorted equine figure with a rider whose hat collapses into a solid black shape, suggesting a tension between control and chaos. The tangled forms and uneven lines evoke a sense of movement caught in a moment of disruption, reflecting Kentridge’s interest in the instability of narrative and the fragility of perception.
Technique & Style
Kentridge employed the labor‑intensive processes of aquatint and engraving, allowing him to build layers of tone and texture through successive etchings. The rough, scribble‑like strokes and jagged contours arise from repeated drawing, erasing, and re‑etching, producing a palimpsestic surface where each mark retains evidence of its previous state.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to a limited series of thirty works produced by Kentridge in the late 2000s, a period marked by his exploration of sequential printmaking. The numbered designation and artist’s signature confirm its authenticity and placement within the series, which has been documented in the artist’s catalogues raisonnés and exhibited in several institutional contexts.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Kentridge (born 28 April 1955) is a South African artist best known for his prints, drawings, and animated films.
