Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Barkley L. Hendricks. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Hendricks combines cut‑and‑pasted printed paper, various inks, ballpoint pen, and screenprint on a pair of sheets.
Created circa 1979, this untitled work by Barkley L. Hendricks combines cut‑and‑pasted printed paper, various inks, ballpoint pen, and screenprint on a pair of sheets. The composition juxtaposes stark black geometric forms with a small, vividly colored portrait of a suited figure wearing sunglasses, set against a light background that includes fragments of handwritten musical scores and sketchy pencil studies.
Subject & Meaning
The central portrait—a man in a suit with bright yellow eyes—offers a focused study of individual identity, while the surrounding black squares function as abstract placeholders, suggesting absent or concealed faces. The inclusion of music sheets and informal sketches introduces a dialogue between visual and auditory notation, hinting at the interplay of presence, absence, and the layered nature of representation.
Technique & Style
Hendricks employs a collage methodology, assembling printed paper cut‑outs with ink applications, stamped marks, and ballpoint line work. Screenprinting adds uniform tonal areas, while the hand‑drawn pencil sketches retain a spontaneous quality. The contrast between the precise geometric black squares and the fluid, colorful portrait underscores the artist’s interest in merging conceptual rigor with figurative observation.
History & Provenance
The piece originates from a period when Hendricks was expanding beyond his well‑known life‑size oil portraits of Black Americans into mixed‑media experiments. Though specific exhibition history is limited, the work reflects his broader engagement with Black portraiture and conceptual art during the late 1970s, a time when he was actively exploring new media and formats.
Artist & collection
Artist
Barkley L. Hendricks (April 16, 1945 – April 18, 2017) was a contemporary American painter who made pioneering contributions to Black portraiture and conceptualism. While he worked in a variety of media and genres…
