Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Agustín Fernández. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
You see a tangle of sharp, mechanical shapes drawn in pencil—gears, hooks, and jagged edges pressed together like a broken machine.
You see a tangle of sharp, mechanical shapes drawn in pencil—gears, hooks, and jagged edges pressed together like a broken machine.
Fernández made this in 1967, right after leaving Cuba for New York. The drawing feels like a secret code, as if the parts could snap into something familiar but never quite do. The lines are so precise they look almost printed, not hand-drawn.
If you like how Fernández turns simple pencil into something strange, try looking up cross-hatching.
Overview
Created in 1967, this untitled drawing by Agustín Fernández consists of a dense arrangement of interlocking mechanical forms rendered in pencil on paper. The composition presents a chaotic network of gears, hooks and jagged edges that suggest a malfunctioning apparatus. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing’s assemblage of precise, machine‑like components evokes a coded language that hints at construction without completion. The juxtaposition of sharp, interlocking parts conveys a sense of tension between order and breakdown, inviting viewers to contemplate the instability inherent in technological systems.
Technique & Style
Fernández employs meticulous pencil work, achieving line quality that approaches the uniformity of printmaking. Fine cross‑hatching and controlled shading define the metallic surfaces, while the crisp edges emphasize the mechanical aesthetic. The overall effect is one of exacting draftsmanship combined with an abstract, almost schematic visual language.
History & Provenance
The piece was executed shortly after Fernández left Cuba for New York, marking a transitional moment in his career. Since its creation, the drawing has entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on display as a representative example of his early graphic practice.
Context
Fernández’s career spanned several cultural centers—including Havana, Paris, San Juan and New York—where he worked as a painter, sculptor and multimedia artist. This drawing reflects the period’s broader interest in industrial imagery and the exploration of mechanical forms within the visual arts, aligning with contemporary concerns about technology and displacement.
Artist & collection
Artist
Agustín Fernández (16 April 1928 - 2 June 2006) was a Cuban painter, sculptor, and multimedia artist.
