Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Alex Katz. It dates from 1985 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1985, this woodcut by American artist Alex Katz is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The print presents a single figure against a uniform blue field, employing a limited palette and stark graphic elements that draw immediate attention to the sitter’s visage.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts an individual wearing a vivid green head covering secured by a dark strap beneath the chin, with a red collar visible at the neckline. The expression is composed, the skin rendered in muted brown tones, suggesting a calm, introspective presence that invites contemplation of identity and attire as visual signifiers.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the work relies on bold, flat areas of color and clean, unmodulated lines. Katz’s approach reduces form to essential shapes, eliminating extraneous detail and emphasizing the contrast between the bright headgear and the solid blue background, a hallmark of his graphic, minimalist aesthetic.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in the mid‑1980s, a period when Katz was exploring print media alongside his painting practice. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, where it remains on view as an example of contemporary woodcut techniques within the institution’s modern art collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alex Katz is an American figurative artist known for his paintings, sculptures, and prints.
