Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Sean Mellyn. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies Mellyn’s interest in juxtaposing mundane objects with surreal, emotive imagery.
Untitled, produced in 1998 by American artist Sean Mellyn, is a black‑and‑white print that forms part of a limited portfolio comprising seven screenprints, some augmented with collage or watercolor, alongside a lithograph and a screenprinted cover. The work is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies Mellyn’s interest in juxtaposing mundane objects with surreal, emotive imagery.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a single faucet delivering a steady stream onto a field of sunflowers whose petals bear sketchy, expressive faces. The water appears to animate the flowers, suggesting a dialogue between the ordinary act of dripping and the emergence of sentient, emotionally varied forms.
Technique & Style
Executed in monochrome, the image relies on the crisp lines and tonal gradations characteristic of screenprinting. Mellyn’s hand‑drawn outlines convey a loose, almost improvised quality, while the stark contrast of black, white, and gray heightens the graphic impact of the everyday object against the anthropomorphic flora.
History & Provenance
Created as part of a series of seven screenprints, Untitled was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art shortly after its completion. It remains catalogued within MoMA’s print and drawing holdings, representing a specific moment in Mellyn’s printmaking practice during the late 1990s.
Context
The work aligns with late‑20th‑century explorations of the uncanny in everyday settings, echoing the broader postmodern tendency to merge familiar domestic items with fantastical elements. Its monochrome palette and graphic approach also reflect contemporary print traditions that emphasize line over color.
Legacy
Untitled continues to be referenced in discussions of print media that blur the boundaries between objectivity and narrative, illustrating how simple visual motifs can generate complex emotional responses within a limited formal framework.
Artist & collection
