Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Ada V. Gabriel in 1935.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Ada V. Gabriel , 1935

Untitled is an ink print by Ada V. Gabriel. It dates from 1935 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Ada V.

About this work

Overview

The work is a black‑and‑white composition that depicts a modest traveling wagon, its door ajar, revealing two figures inside and a dog lying nearby.

Ada V. Gabriel’s lithograph Untitled, executed circa 1935, exemplifies her engagement with mid‑century modern printmaking. The work is a black‑and‑white composition that depicts a modest traveling wagon, its door ajar, revealing two figures inside and a dog lying nearby. The image balances straightforward line work with subtle tonal shading, creating a scene that feels both lively and slightly enigmatic.

Subject & Meaning

The central motif is a small show wagon bearing the name "Albert Pyneback" and a warning sign that reads "Pass on Left." Inside, a standing and a seated figure look outward, while posters of shadowy silhouettes adorn the exterior, hinting at a mobile entertainment act. The inclusion of everyday objects, a suitcase, a dog, grounds the scene in a narrative of itinerant performance and transient community.

Technique & Style

Created through lithography, Gabriel employed clean, linear marks and graduated shading to suggest depth and movement. The medium’s capacity for fine tonal variation allows the artist to render the wagon’s textures and the figures’ gestures with economy, while the stark contrast between line and shadow accentuates the mysterious atmosphere of the depicted spectacle.

History & Provenance

Born in 1898, Gabriel studied at Barnard College and the New York School of Design before refining her practice under Erich Gletter in Munich and Emil Ganso in New York. Untitled entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Her prints are also held by the National Gallery of Art and the Yale University Art Gallery, reflecting a broad institutional recognition of her work.