Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Balcomb Greene. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Balcomb Greene's *Untitled* (1940) is an oil on canvas painting that marks a transitional phase in the artist's style, shifting from purely non-objective abstraction towards incorporating more natural and open forms.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two simple, unadorned boxes set against a deep blue backdrop. One box, tilted on a light pinkish tabletop, exposes its greenish interior, while the other, lying flat, reveals a rusty, textured surface. The subject matter's simplicity and the boxes' everyday appearance suggest an exploration of the mundane through abstract expressionist lenses.
Technique & Style
Greene employs muted colors and emphasizes geometric forms, though with a touch of irregularity in the shapes. Visible brushstrokes on the blue wall and the textured interior of the right box highlight the artist's expressive use of medium. The overall effect is one of solidity with a subtle hint of imperfection.
History & Provenance
Created in 1940, *Untitled* is part of a pivotal period in Greene's career, reflecting his gradual move towards more representational elements within abstraction. The work is now part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Context
Greene's activism for abstract art, alongside his wife Gertrude Glass Greene, and his role in co-founding the American Abstract Artists group, contextualize *Untitled* within a broader movement advocating for abstraction in American art during the early 20th century.
Legacy
As a piece bridging Greene's abstract and more form-inclusive periods, *Untitled* contributes to the narrative of abstract expressionism's evolution. Its presence in MoMA's collection ensures its visibility within the canon of American modern art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Balcomb Greene (1904–1990) was an American artist and teacher. He and his wife, artist Gertrude Glass Greene, were heavily involved in political activism to promote mainstream acceptance of abstract art and were…
