Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Kathleen Lindsley Ian Hamilton Finlay. It dates from 1992 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1992, this untitled offset lithograph is a collaborative work by Ian Hamilton Finlay and Kathleen Lindsley. The print is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Rendered in stark black and white, it presents a detailed study of a basket overflowing with assorted plants and fruits, each element annotated with a numbered label.
Subject & Meaning
The basket’s contents are identified by names such as “Hazelnut” and “Crayfish,” each accompanied by a numeric marker. These annotations reference the French Revolutionary calendar, which renamed months after natural phenomena. The image isolates ten consecutive days from a single month, turning a botanical sketch into a visual representation of a historic temporal system.
Technique & Style
Executed as an offset lithograph, the work employs the lithographic process’s capacity for fine line work and tonal contrast. The black‑and‑white palette emphasizes the precise drawing quality, while the flat surface beneath the basket creates a sense of a close‑up study, highlighting the meticulous labeling and the interplay between natural forms and textual elements.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced in the early 1990s and subsequently acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains in the permanent collection. Its joint authorship reflects Finlay’s ongoing interest in text‑based art and Lindsley’s contribution to printmaking, situating the work within both artists’ broader practices of integrating language and visual media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kathleen Lindsley Ian Hamilton Finlay
Kathleen Lindsley Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925–2006) was a British artist.
