Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Jacob Burck in 1934.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

Untitled by Jacob Burck (1934) · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Overview

Created in 1934, this lithograph forms part of a six‑image series by Jacob Burck, a Polish‑born artist who worked across painting, sculpture and editorial cartooning. The work is currently held by the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies Burck’s engagement with socially charged subject matter during the interwar period.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a tense confrontation: a woman in a dark coat is being held back by two men, one in a business suit and bowler hat, the other in a police uniform, while she appears to be shouting. A placard carried by the suited figure bears the slogan “WORK OR BREAD,” suggesting a protest about labor conditions.

Technique & Style

Executed in lithography, the composition relies on stark, bold lines and a limited palette of dark tones that heighten the sense of urgency. The graphic quality of the print reflects Burck’s background in cartooning, while the stark contrasts amplify the dramatic narrative of conflict.

History & Provenance

Burck produced the work while active in left‑leaning political circles, contributing cartoons and murals for Communist causes in the 1920s and early 1930s. After this period he moved into mainstream newspaper illustration, notably for the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch and the Chicago Daily Times. The lithograph entered MoMA’s collection as part of its modern print holdings.

Context

The piece reflects the social unrest of the Great Depression, when slogans like “Work or Bread” circulated among labor demonstrations. Burck’s dual experience as a political cartoonist and later a newspaper illustrator informs the work’s blend of reportage and expressive urgency, situating it within the broader visual culture of 1930s American activism.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob Burck

Jacob Burck (née Yankel Boczkowsky, January 10, 1907 – May 11, 1982) was a Polish-born Jewish-American painter, sculptor, and award-winning editorial cartoonist.