Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Cildo Meireles in 1975.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Artwork

Untitled

Cildo Meireles , 1975

Untitled is a print by Cildo Meireles. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Untitled, a 1975 print by Cildo Meireles, utilizes a Brazilian five hundred cruzados novos banknote as its medium, with impressions applied to both sides.

Subject & Meaning

The work incorporates a pre-existing banknote design featuring a portrait of a man, numerical denominations, and official text ('BANCO CENTRAL DO BRASIL'), overlaid with a central rubber stamp reading '500 CRUZEIROS'. This juxtaposition comments on the intersection of economic value and artistic expression.

Technique & Style

Meireles employed a rubber stamp to add uniform, bold text ('500 CRUZEIROS') to the banknote's intricate, multicolored design, blending the mundane with the artistic.

History & Provenance

Created in 1975, the piece is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, reflecting the institution's interest in conceptual and socially engaged art of the period.

Context

Produced during a time of economic instability in Brazil, the work may allude to the country's monetary fluctuations, using the banknote as a symbol of transient value.