Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Penelope Bennett. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The artist used a mix of printing methods to create texture, including raised lines that add depth.
This print shows a pale face in the center, surrounded by a wild ring of flowers and leaves. The colors are bright, reds, yellows, and greens, with some dark shadows mixed in. The face looks smooth and simple, while the border is messy, almost like vines tangled together.
The artist used a mix of printing methods to create texture, including raised lines that add depth. This piece is part of a bigger set of prints made in 1973.
Look up lithography next to see how it works.
Overview
Untitled is a 1973 engraving by Penelope Bennett, part of a diverse portfolio combining multiple printmaking techniques. It resides in The Museum of Modern Art’s collection as one of eleven screenprints, seven etchings, six lithographs, five linoleum cuts, one engraving, and one intaglio work, all produced in the same year. The piece exemplifies Bennett’s experimental approach to surface and texture through layered print processes.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a softly rendered, pale face, its features simplified and serene. Around it, a dense, chaotic halo of flowers and foliage swirls in energetic lines, suggesting growth, decay, or emotional turbulence. The contrast between the calm central form and the turbulent border may imply a tension between inner stillness and external chaos, though no explicit narrative is given.
Technique & Style
Bennett employed engraving to achieve fine, incised lines that define the face and some floral elements. Raised textures from embossing add tactile dimension, while the vibrant palette of reds, yellows, and greens, applied through mixed media, enhances visual rhythm. The background’s irregular, vine-like forms contrast with the face’s smoothness, emphasizing the interplay between control and spontaneity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1973, Untitled was produced as part of a cohesive group of prints Bennett made that year, likely intended as a unified series. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, preserved alongside other works from the portfolio. Its inclusion reflects institutional interest in experimental printmaking practices of the early 1970s.
Context
Bennett’s work emerged during a period when artists were expanding traditional print techniques to explore abstraction and personal symbolism. Her use of embossing and mixed methods aligned with broader trends in postwar American printmaking, where materiality and process became as significant as imagery. This piece reflects a quiet rebellion against flat, uniform print aesthetics.
Legacy
Though not widely exhibited outside institutional settings, Untitled contributes to understanding Bennett’s role in expanding the expressive potential of print media. Its integration into MoMA’s collection ensures its place in scholarly discussions of 1970s printmaking, particularly regarding the blending of technique and psychological tone.
Artist & collection
