Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a chalk drawing by Balthus. It dates from 1949 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1949 chalk drawing by Balthus, currently in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. The work depicts an interior scene with two figures and an assortment of objects, rendered in loose, expressive lines.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows a room with two individuals in distinct poses: one lying on the floor, entangled in a rope or cloth, and the other standing by a window, lifting a curtain. The table in the background holds a small boat and a lamp, contributing to an atmosphere of quiet, anticipatory unease.
Technique & Style
Balthus executed the drawing with quick, loose chalk lines, resulting in soft, smudged contours that impart a dreamy, unfinished quality to the work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1949, the drawing is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, though specific details of its acquisition or earlier ownership are not provided here.
Artist & collection
Artist
Balthasar Klossowski, also known as Balthus, was a Polish-French modern artist. He is known for his erotically charged images of young girls, and the dreamlike quality of his imagery.
Le repos du modèle (1ère planche) (The Model's Rest) (first plate)
Nude Model Reclining
Study of Madame Marie Cantacuzène; Study of Standing Female Nude
Studies Including a Straw Hat
The death of the strong, wicked man
Statue of a Nude before a Window View
Le repos du modèle (2e planche) (The Model's Rest) (second plate)
Untitled
Greeting Grandmother (Le Bonjour à la Grand-mère)
Study of "Venus de Milo"
Femme à sa toilette avec sa femme de chambre (2e planche en largeur) (Woman at Her Toilette with Her Maid) (second horizontal plate)