Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Barbara Chase-Riboud. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1967 by Barbara Chase‑Riboud, this untitled drawing consists of pencil and charcoal applied to paper. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its composition is dominated by an intricate network of overlapping lines that fill the entire surface, producing a dense, monochromatic field without any added color.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a combination of thick, dark strokes and finer, wavering marks, suggesting a layered approach where successive applications obscure earlier gestures. Charcoal provides deep tonal values, while pencil offers lighter, more delicate lines. The overlapping hatching creates a sense of depth and texture, reminiscent of cross‑hatching methods used to build density in drawing.
Subject & Meaning
The central area of the composition hints at a vaguely defined form that might be interpreted as an architectural silhouette or an abstracted facial profile, though its ambiguity is intentional. The tangled web of lines invites viewers to consider the tension between order and chaos, and the way meaning can emerge from seemingly chaotic marks.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced during a prolific period for Chase‑Riboud in the late 1960s, a time when she was exploring drawing as a means of investigating line and space. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, where it has been displayed as part of exhibitions focusing on mid‑century American drawing.
Context
In the 1960s, many artists were experimenting with non‑representational forms and the materiality of drawing media. Chase‑Riboud’s work aligns with these trends, emphasizing the physical act of mark‑making. The drawing’s dense, interlaced lines also reflect broader artistic concerns of the era regarding abstraction, perception, and the dissolution of clear pictorial references.
Artist & collection
Artist
Barbara Chase-Riboud is an American and French visual artist, sculptor, novelist, and poet.
