Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Anne Goldthwaite. It dates from 1934 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The child, dressed in a dress and shoes with short hair, looks downward, creating a quiet, focused interaction between the two figures.
Created in 1934, Anne Goldththwaite's untitled lithograph captures an intimate domestic scene featuring a woman and a young child. The composition centers on the woman, seated on a simple chair, as she attentively adjusts the clothing of a standing child. The child, dressed in a dress and shoes with short hair, looks downward, creating a quiet, focused interaction between the two figures.
Executed in a soft, muted tonal range characteristic of Goldthwaite's printmaking from this period, the work emphasizes emotional connection over dramatic action. Produced during the Great Depression, this piece aligns with Goldthwaite's broader engagement with social realism and the Section of Painting and Sculpture program, which encouraged artists to depict American life. While Goldthwaite is perhaps best known for her depictions of Southern life and labor, this lithograph highlights her sensitivity to familial bonds and the dignity of everyday moments.
The work stands as a representative example of her contribution to 20th-century American printmaking, reflecting the era's focus on human resilience and the quiet strength found in domestic spheres.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman seated in a chair, adjusting a child’s clothing. The child, standing and looking downward, wears a simple dress and shoes. The interaction is intimate and unhurried, suggesting themes of care, routine, and the understated moments that shape everyday life.
Technique & Style
Goldthwaite employs the lithographic process to achieve soft tonal gradations, using light and shadow to model the figures. The muted hues and delicate line work create a sense of depth while maintaining a calm, contemplative atmosphere. The back‑turned figure and obscured face focus attention on gesture rather than identity.
History & Provenance
The print entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after its creation in the mid‑1930s, though details of its acquisition are not widely recorded. It remains an example of Goldthwaite’s printmaking practice during a period when she explored domestic subjects through a modernist lens.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anne Goldthwaite was an American painter and printmaker and an advocate of women's rights and equal rights.
