Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Amelia Peláez Del Casal. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1936, this pencil drawing on paper by Amelia Peláez Del Casal is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work, titled Untitled, presents a compact composition of three rounded figures seated on a bench, each distinguished by a wide-brimmed hat. The scene is rendered with a restrained line quality that emphasizes form over detail.
Subject & Meaning
The three figures occupy a simple urban setting, their bodies softened into flowing, almost liquid shapes. One figure holds a fan, another leans an arm against the bench’s back, suggesting a moment of casual interaction. The ambiguous, stylized forms invite contemplation of everyday leisure rendered through a subtly abstracted lens, blurring the line between portraiture and decorative motif.
Technique & Style
Peláez employs precise pencil strokes to build volume, using cross‑hatching and varied line density to suggest shadow and depth. Despite the unconventional, melt‑like contours, the shading gives the figures a tangible presence. The background is reduced to minimal linear hints of a building and a tree, allowing the central forms to dominate the visual field.
History & Provenance
The drawing was executed in 1936, a period when Peláez was exploring the interplay of Caribbean motifs and modernist abstraction. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition, reflecting the institution’s early interest in Latin American modernism and the artist’s emerging reputation at the time.
Context
During the 1930s, Peláez was part of a broader movement among Cuban artists who integrated local cultural symbols with avant‑garde techniques. The use of everyday objects—such as the fan—and the stylized figures aligns with contemporary explorations of identity and form, situating the drawing within a dialogue between regional tradition and international modernist trends.
Artist & collection
Artist
Amelia Peláez Del Casal (1896–1968) was a Cuban artist, born in Yaguajay.
