Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Jerry N. Uelsmann, Untitled (1973). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Jerry N. Uelsmann artsdot.com/en/artists/jerry-n-uelsmann/
Artist’s dates: 1934 –
Painted: 1973
Original size: 24 x 19 cm

Copyright This work is treated as still under copyright. Jerry N. Uelsmann was born in 1934 and has no recorded death date; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Untitled — Jerry N. Uelsmann

How big is it?

The original measures 24 × 19 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span, counting 0 from birth.

Painted when the artist was 39. 7 of the 15 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

▲ this work, 1973 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1967 Main working years: 1967–1973 Late works: from 1973

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Questioning Moment, 1971 artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-questioning-moment-AQTJGW-en/
Simultaneous Implications, 1973 artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-simultaneous-implications-AQTJG8-en/
Untitled (2 Nude Women near Ocean), 1973 artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-2-nude-women-near-ocean-AQTJGQ-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Espresso #403a3c

Catalogued palette

#403A3C
#857F81
#E9E7ED
#0E080A

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Main colour name: Espresso
Intensity: Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Muted How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Jerry N. Uelsmann over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 66.7%
2 United States of America 33.3%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 4 most looked-at works by Jerry N. Uelsmann

1 Untitled (2 Nude Women near Ocean), 1973 33.3%
2 Untitled (Clouds and Briefcase), 1982 33.3%
3 Dwelling of the Wise, 1960 33.3%
— Untitled, 1973 this painting 0.0%

Together these works take 99.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 15 works by this artist, of which 3 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Untitled — Jerry N. Uelsmann

The Untitled photograph by Jerry Uelsmann is a masterpiece that has captivated art enthusiasts and critics alike. Created in 1973, this black and white image is a testament to Uelsmann's innovative technique of combining multiple negatives to create surreal landscapes. As a professional expert in Art and salesman at AllPaintingsStore.com, I am delighted to delve into the intricacies of this enigmatic piece.

Artist Background

Jerry Uelsmann is an American artist known for his pioneering work in photomontage. His photographs are characterized by seamless compositing, often featuring bizarre contrasts of scale and mind-bending paradoxes. Uelsmann's work has been exhibited in numerous individual shows worldwide and is part of the permanent collections of many prestigious museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Analysis of the Painting

The Untitled photograph features a woman standing in front of a rock with her legs spread apart, exuding an air of vulnerability or sensuality. The image also includes two other people visible in the background and a chair placed near the center. This intriguing composition invites viewers to interpret its meaning or story. As Uelsmann himself once said, "The camera is a tool, and the darkroom is where the magic happens."

The use of multiple negatives creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the image.

The juxtaposition of human figures and natural elements adds to the surreal quality of the photograph.

The absence of color emphasizes the textures and forms within the composition.

AllPaintingsStore.com offers a wide range of handmade oil paintings reproductions, including works by Jerry Uelsmann. For more information on his artwork, visit our website at /art/list/?Filter=AQTJGC-Jerry-Uelsmann-Untitled or explore the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection on https://americanart.si.edu/.

The Untitled photograph by Jerry Uelsmann is a thought-provoking piece that continues to inspire and intrigue art enthusiasts. As we explore the world of art, it is essential to appreciate the innovative techniques and creative vision of artists like Uelsmann, who have pushed the boundaries of their medium to create something truly unique and captivating.

Artist

Jerry N. Uelsmann

Born in Detroit, United States of America

Early Life and Education

Born: June 11, 1934, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Developed an interest in photography at the age of fourteen.

Earned a BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1957.

Received MS and MFA degrees from Indiana University in 1960.

Influenced by teachers Minor White, Ralph Hattersley, and Henry Holmes Smith.

Artistic Development and Style

Became known for photomontage, a technique he pioneered in America during the 1960s.

Developed a unique method of composite printing using multiple negatives and extensive darkroom work.

Utilized up to a dozen enlargers simultaneously to create final images.

His style is characterized by surrealistic, allegorical imagery exploring imagination and perception.

Did not seek to create narratives but rather "allegorical surrealist imagery of the unfathomable."

Continues to use traditional equipment despite the advent of digital techniques.

Major Achievements and Recognition

Received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1967.

Awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in 1972.

Had his first solo exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in 1967.

Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.

Founding member of the Society of Photographic Education.

His work is held in numerous prestigious museum collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art.

Received the Lucie Award in Fine Art in 2015.

Influences and Historical Significance

Inspired by Victorian art photographers like Oscar Gustave Rejlander and Henry Peach Robinson, reviving their combination printing techniques.

His work foreshadowed the use of Adobe Photoshop for creating surrealistic images in the late 20th century.

Expanded the artistic boundaries of photography by challenging traditional notions of photographic purity.

Considered a precursor to digital image manipulation and composite photography.

His process, while now easily replicated digitally, was considered "magical skill" with his analog tools at the time.

Later Life and Legacy

Taught photography at the University of Florida from 1960 until retirement in 1998.

Divorced his third wife, Maggie Taylor, in 2016.

Continues to produce photographs regularly.

Died April 4, 2022.

His legacy lies in pioneering a unique photographic style that blended artistry and technical mastery, influencing generations of photographers and artists.

Where to read more

The artist Jerry N. Uelsmann artsdot.com/en/artists/jerry-n-uelsmann/
Similar works More works to compare artsdot.com/en/art/similar/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Untitled

artsdot.com/en/art/download/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Uelsmann, Jerry N.. Untitled. 1973, https://artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/
APA: Uelsmann, Jerry N. (1973). Untitled [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/
Chicago: Jerry N. Uelsmann. Untitled. 1973. https://artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/
Harvard: Uelsmann, Jerry N. (1973) Untitled. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/jerry-n-uelsmann-untitled-AQTJGC-en/

Untitled — Jerry N. Uelsmann

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
Look back at Questioning Moment (1971), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Jerry N. Uelsmann was about 39 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

What is the perceived brightness of "Untitled" by Jerry N. Uelsmann?

The perceived brightness of "Untitled" by Jerry N. Uelsmann is deep_shadow. It can be matched to the light of the intended space.

What are the format and size of "Untitled"?

The format of "Untitled" is portrait, and the original measures 24 x 19 cm. Both are useful when planning a reproduction.

Can I preview "Untitled" by Jerry N. Uelsmann before ordering?

A preview of "Untitled" by Jerry N. Uelsmann is available on the artwork's Preview page.