Who painted Untitled?

Untitled was painted by Salvatore Fiume in 1948.

Where can I see Untitled?

Untitled is held by Museum of Modern Art.

What movement is Untitled?

Untitled is associated with Abstract Expressionism.

Artwork

Untitled

Salvatore Fiume , 1948

Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Salvatore Fiume. It dates from 1948 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1948, this untitled oil on canvas by Italian artist Salvatore Fiume belongs to the abstract tradition and is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The work presents a stylized urban scene populated by simplified, block‑like human figures against a backdrop of compressed, angular architecture and a deep‑blue sky.

Subject & Meaning

The composition suggests a bustling cityscape reduced to its essential forms: oversized heads, elongated arms and flattened bodies convey a sense of anonymity within the urban crowd. The figures appear poised on pedestals or clutching objects, hinting at themes of individual presence amid the dense, impersonal structures that surround them.

Technique & Style

Fiume employs a mixture of hard, defined edges and smoother, flesh‑like surfaces, creating a tension between rigidity and softness. Thick applications of paint in selected areas give a tactile, almost sculptural quality, while flatter sections maintain a planar, graphic feel. The palette combines muted city tones with vivid splashes of color, reinforcing the abstracted atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The painting was completed shortly after World War II, a period when Fiume explored non‑representational forms. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, where it has remained on view as an example of post‑war European abstraction.

Context

Fiume’s work aligns with contemporaneous movements that emphasized geometric simplification and the expressive potential of paint texture. The piece reflects broader trends in late‑1940s European art, where artists sought to reinterpret urban experience through abstraction, balancing formal experimentation with lingering social narratives.