Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Ester Hernández. It dates from 1982 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled (1982) is a screenprint by Ester Hernández, an American Chicana artist. The work critiques the agricultural industry, specifically targeting the production of Sun Mad Raisins, which were grown using harmful chemicals like pesticides.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a skeleton, symbolizing the detrimental health effects of consuming chemically treated food, dressed as a farm worker holding a basket of unnaturally grown green raisins. The image conveys the artist’s concern for farm workers’ rights and the impact of industrial farming practices on both laborers and consumers.
Technique & Style
Hernández employs sharp, bold colors and simple, graphic shapes in this screenprint, characteristic of her accessible visual approach. The composition’s clarity and vibrancy serve to emphasize the urgency of her social commentary.
History & Provenance
Created in 1982, Untitled aligns with Hernández’s involvement in the Chicano Arts Movement and her long-standing commitment to social justice, including farm worker rights and women’s rights. Based in San Francisco, her practice reflects local and national activism.
Context
This work is part of a broader 1970s-80s movement where Chicano artists used their platforms to address labor rights, cultural identity, and the environmental impact of agricultural practices in California, where the Sun Mad brand was notably criticized.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to Ester Hernández’s legacy as a pioneering Chicana artist advocating for social change through art. The piece remains relevant due to its themes of labor rights, public health, and the ongoing critique of industrial agriculture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ester Hernández (born 1944) is an American Chicana visual artist recognized for her prints and pastels focusing on farm worker rights, cultural, political, and Chicana feminist issues.
