Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is an untitled lithographic print that depicts a pair of coarse, hairy hands clutching a fragmented cross composed of irregular blocks. The composition is rendered in a sketch‑like manner, emphasizing the weight of the hands and the instability of the broken structure they support.
Subject & Meaning
The central motif—hands grasping a disintegrating cross—suggests themes of struggle and the precarious nature of belief or burden. A peculiar emblem resembling two intersecting lightning bolts appears on a patch of one hand, adding an ambiguous, possibly symbolic element to the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the image relies on bold, rough lines and minimal shading, giving the impression of a rapid drawing. The texture of the hands and the uneven arrangement of the blocks are achieved through the medium’s capacity for stark contrast and gestural marks.
Context
Lithography, historically valued for its ability to produce multiple copies with a hand‑drawn quality, often serves artists seeking a balance between immediacy and reproducibility. This work aligns with that tradition, employing the medium’s strengths to convey a raw, tactile presence.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
