Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Bruce Conner. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Created in 1968, this untitled work by Bruce Conner consists of a composite of thirty offset lithographs, each printed on both sides and bound together with a paper band. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its visual field is dominated by two vertically stacked, green-toned blocks of undulating lines, intersected by a brown paper strip bearing the phrase “LEGAL TENDER” in stark black type.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents an abstract arrangement of repetitive, squiggling forms that fill the green blocks, suggesting a rhythmic, almost mechanical pattern. The intervening paper band, with its commercial‑style lettering, introduces a textual element that hints at notions of value, exchange, or bureaucratic language, juxtaposing the organic visual texture with a formal, legalistic reference.
Technique & Style
Conner employed offset lithography, a printmaking process that transfers ink from a metal plate to paper via a rubber blanket, allowing for fine detail and uniform color fields. The thirty sheets are double‑sided, creating a layered surface that appears textured and slightly uneven, reinforcing the work’s tactile quality while maintaining the crispness of the printed lines.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the late 1960s, a period when Conner was exploring experimental print media. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, where it has been displayed as an example of his engagement with mass‑production techniques and the intersection of visual art and textual signage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bruce Conner was an American artist who worked with assemblage, film, drawing, sculpture, painting, collage, and photography.
