Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Arshile Gorky. It dates from 1932 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1932, this pencil drawing by Arshile Gorky is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work, untitled, consists of a single sheet of paper on which Gorky rendered a whimsical, fragmented scene using only graphite. Its modest size and informal presentation contrast with the complexity of the imagery within.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes a hybrid figure—human torso crowned with a bird’s head—seated on a stool and engaged in painting a portrait. A donkey’s head emerges from the background, adding another animal element. The odd assemblage suggests a playful interrogation of identity and perception, inviting viewers to contemplate the boundaries between the animate and the representational.
Technique & Style
Gorky employed loose, uneven pencil strokes that convey a sense of immediacy, resembling rapid sketches rather than polished renderings. The lines vary in pressure, creating a textured surface that emphasizes the drawing’s spontaneous quality. The lack of shading and reliance on simple contours highlight the artist’s focus on form over detailed modeling.
History & Provenance
The drawing dates to the early 1930s, a period when Gorky was transitioning toward his mature abstract language. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition, becoming part of the institution’s representation of Gorky’s early experiments with figuration and abstraction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arshile Gorky was an Armenian-American painter who had a seminal influence on Abstract Expressionism.
