Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Yayanagi Tsuyoshi. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The background features a stylized landscape with green hills and a white sky, accompanied by a large black "SB" in the top-right corner.
This painting is a screenprint titled "Untitled" by Yayanagi Tsuyoshi, created in 1968. The composition is divided into geometric shapes, including a large brown rectangle and a smaller black square. A blue circle with a spiral design in the center is prominently displayed.
The background features a stylized landscape with green hills and a white sky, accompanied by a large black "SB" in the top-right corner. The overall effect is one of bold colors and geometric forms.
To explore more works like this, visit The Museum of Modern Art.
Overview
Created in 1968, this screenprint by Japanese artist Yayanagi Tsuyoshi is catalogued as “Untitled.” The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It presents a flat, graphic composition built from bold, contrasting colors and sharply defined geometric forms.
Subject & Meaning
The image arranges a large brown rectangle and a smaller black square alongside a blue circle that contains a central spiral motif. A simplified landscape of green hills under a white sky occupies the lower field, while a prominent black “SB” marks the upper‑right corner, suggesting a blend of abstract signage and pictorial reference.
Technique & Style
Executed as a screenprint, the piece relies on layered stencils to achieve flat areas of color and crisp edges. Yayanagi’s approach reflects the late‑1960s interest in graphic design, minimalism, and the integration of commercial visual language into fine art practice.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 1968 and subsequently entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s commitment to documenting post‑war Japanese printmaking and the cross‑cultural exchange of visual ideas during that period.
Context
During the late 1960s, Japanese artists increasingly explored screenprinting as a means to merge fine art with mass‑media aesthetics. Yayanagi’s “Untitled” aligns with contemporaneous movements that emphasized geometric abstraction, typographic elements, and a reduction of narrative content in favor of visual impact.
Artist & collection
