Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by William Kentridge. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this lithograph by William Kentridge uses pages from an encyclopedia as its substrate, layered with drawn forms and mounted on paper. A polished steel cylinder stands vertically at the center, reflecting its surroundings. The work merges traditional printmaking with sculptural elements, extending Kentridge’s interest in material transformation and the physicality of image-making.
Subject & Meaning
Encyclopedic pages, symbols of authoritative learning, are disrupted by abstract marks, implying the instability of recorded truth.
The swirling lines and fragmented text suggest a collapse or reorganization of knowledge. Encyclopedic pages, symbols of authoritative learning, are disrupted by abstract marks, implying the instability of recorded truth. The reflective cylinder introduces an element of perception, inviting viewers to see themselves within the work and question the reliability of both historical narratives and personal observation.
Technique & Style
Kentridge employed lithography to draw directly onto the encyclopedia pages, allowing ink to interact with the existing printed text. The torn edges and uneven mounting preserve the raw, found quality of the material. The mirror-polished steel cylinder, hand-painted with geometric patterns, contrasts the organic, eroded surface beneath, creating a dialogue between industrial precision and hand-made imperfection.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of The Museum of Modern Art in New York, where it is held as part of a broader engagement with Kentridge’s print-based practice. It was produced during a period when the artist was increasingly integrating sculptural objects into his two-dimensional works, reflecting his ongoing exploration of time, memory, and the material traces of revision.
Context
This piece emerged from Kentridge’s sustained investigation into the politics of memory and the fragility of historical records, themes central to his work following apartheid-era South Africa. By repurposing discarded reference materials, he critiques the authority of institutional knowledge while aligning his process with the iterative, provisional nature of historical understanding.
Legacy
The work exemplifies Kentridge’s influence on contemporary printmaking by redefining the medium as a site of physical and conceptual layering. Its combination of text, image, and reflective surface has inspired artists to consider the materiality of archives and the role of reflection, both literal and metaphorical, in the interpretation of history.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Kentridge (born 28 April 1955) is a South African artist best known for his prints, drawings, and animated films.
