Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by André Dunoyer de Segonzac. It dates from 1947 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1947, this etching by André Dunoyer de Segonzac is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Executed in ink on paper, the work captures a solitary male figure in profile with minimal detail. The artist’s hand is evident in the unrefined, rapid strokes that define form without polish, reflecting a spontaneous approach to the medium.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a bald man wearing glasses and a collared shirt, rendered in a side view that emphasizes quiet introspection. No narrative context is provided, and the absence of background or gesture directs focus to the individual’s presence. The simplicity suggests a study of character rather than a portrait with specific identity, inviting contemplation of anonymity.
Technique & Style
As an etching, the image was created by incising lines into a metal plate treated with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. Dunoyer de Segonzac employed loose, scratchy lines and dense shading around the face and neck to suggest volume and texture. The paper’s natural grain enhances the tactile quality, while the thin border frames the composition with restraint.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection following its creation in 1947, though its earlier ownership is not documented. It remains one of many prints from the artist’s later period, when he increasingly favored direct, expressive mark-making. The artist’s signature, faintly inscribed in the corner, confirms authorship without drawing attention away from the image.
Context
In postwar France, many artists turned to intimate, personal subjects as a response to broader societal upheaval. Dunoyer de Segonzac, long associated with the School of Paris, continued exploring figuration through printmaking, favoring immediacy over finish. This etching aligns with a broader trend of artists using simple means to convey psychological presence.
Legacy
This etching exemplifies Dunoyer de Segonzac’s commitment to expressive line and the potential of printmaking to capture fleeting observation. Though not widely exhibited, it contributes to understanding his late style—unadorned, direct, and rooted in the physical act of drawing. It stands as a quiet testament to his enduring interest in the human form.
Artist & collection
Artist
André Dunoyer de Segonzac (1884–1974) was a French artist, born in Boussy-Saint-Antoine.
