Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by José Bedia. It dates from 1994 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1994, this lithograph with chine collé by José Bedia is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Created in 1994, this lithograph with chine collé by José Bedia is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work combines printed imagery with small pieces of paper adhered to the surface, creating a layered texture. Its composition centers on two simplified human forms in an open space, surrounded by abstract, swirling background elements that suggest atmosphere or movement rather than literal landscape.
Subject & Meaning
Two stylized figures occupy the foreground, one holding a tall, rounded plant, the other bending to collect an object from the ground. The central inscription 'Jobles,' encircled by stars, introduces a cryptic, possibly symbolic term. The figures’ minimal forms and ritualistic gestures evoke themes of labor, connection to nature, or spiritual practice, though no definitive narrative is provided, leaving interpretation open to cultural or personal resonance.
Technique & Style
Bedia employed lithography to render the figures and background, then added chine collé by gluing thin, colored paper fragments to enhance texture and tone. The figures are constructed from broad, flat shapes with minimal contouring, rejecting naturalism in favor of symbolic clarity. The background’s dense, swirling gray and yellow marks contrast with the figures’ simplicity, creating visual tension between order and chaos.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 1994 and entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly thereafter. It reflects Bedia’s engagement with printmaking during a period when he was increasingly integrating Afro-Cuban spiritual motifs into his visual language. No earlier exhibition or ownership history is publicly documented beyond its acquisition by MoMA, suggesting it was likely created for direct institutional inclusion.
Context
Bedia, a Cuban-born artist, developed a visual vocabulary rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions, syncretic religions, and indigenous cosmologies. In the 1990s, his work often explored themes of displacement and cultural memory. This print aligns with his broader practice of distilling complex belief systems into elemental forms, using print media to reach wider audiences while maintaining symbolic depth.
Legacy
Untitled exemplifies Bedia’s contribution to contemporary printmaking through its fusion of cultural symbolism and experimental technique. The work’s restrained imagery and layered materials influenced later artists exploring identity and ritual in non-narrative forms. Its presence in MoMA’s collection affirms its role in expanding the boundaries of print as a medium for spiritual and cultural expression in late 20th-century art.
Artist & collection
