Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Carole Benzaken. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Carole Benzaken’s 2004 lithograph, untitled, presents a continuous, narrow composition divided into three visual zones.
Carole Benzaken’s 2004 lithograph, untitled, presents a continuous, narrow composition divided into three visual zones. The left segment captures a close‑up of a piano keyboard with softened edges, the center shows a hand grasping a small object alongside a child’s inquisitive face, and the right portion features a cat’s visage and paws rendered in stark black against a white field. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The piece juxtaposes ordinary scenes, musical instrument, youthful curiosity, and domestic animal, within a single strip, inviting viewers to consider the rhythm of daily life. By aligning these disparate moments, the artist suggests a dialogue between sound, innocence, and the tactile presence of a pet, creating a layered narrative that unfolds as the eye moves across the format.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the image was produced by drawing on a limestone or metal plate with a greasy medium, then treating the surface so ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This printmaking process allows for fine tonal variation and repeated editions, evident in the work’s crisp contrasts and the subtle blurring of the piano keys, which convey depth within the flat medium.
History & Provenance
Created in 2004, the untitled lithograph entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition that same year. Its inclusion reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary print practices and the artist’s exploration of everyday subject matter through the lithographic tradition.
Artist & collection
