Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Richard Deacon. It dates from 1987 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The piece is a black‑ground print that presents two expansive, smooth forms resembling stretched fabric or skin, joined at the top in a looping configuration.
Created in 1987, this untitled work by Richard Deacon belongs to a small portfolio that includes two aquatints and two etchings. The piece is a black‑ground print that presents two expansive, smooth forms resembling stretched fabric or skin, joined at the top in a looping configuration. Their pale, almost gray surfaces are traversed by faint linear markings, giving the composition a subtle, ambiguous presence.
Subject & Meaning
The work does not offer a narrative scene; instead it foregrounds abstracted bodily or textile qualities. The juxtaposition of the two forms suggests a tension between connection and separation, while the muted palette and delicate lines invite contemplation of surface, weight, and the way light might interact with pliable material.
Technique & Style
Deacon employed the aquatint process, a variant of intaglio printing that enables the buildup of soft tonal areas rather than crisp lines. By exposing the plate to powdered resin and controlling acid bites, the artist achieved gradual gradations of gray that convey volume and depth, complementing the smooth, fabric‑like shapes.
History & Provenance
The print is part of a limited portfolio produced in the late 1980s and entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation. Its acquisition reflects MoMA's interest in contemporary printmaking practices and Deacon's emerging reputation during that period.
Context
During the 1980s, Deacon explored the boundaries between drawing, sculpture, and print, often focusing on materiality and surface. This untitled aquatint aligns with his broader investigation of organic forms rendered through precise, yet subtle, graphic techniques, situating the work within the era's experimental print culture.
Artist & collection
