Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Neo Expressionist artist Barkley L. Hendricks. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1976, this life‑size oil painting by Barkley L.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1976, this life‑size oil painting by Barkley L. Hendricks depicts a seated woman in a domestic interior. The canvas measures roughly human scale, allowing the viewer to encounter the figure at eye level. The work is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, representing Hendricks’ sustained focus on portraiture of Black individuals during the 1970s.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman reclining on a tan sofa, one leg draped over the armrest, dressed in a green top trimmed in orange, a shimmering green skirt, and a headscarf. Her relaxed posture and casual gaze convey a sense of everyday confidence, while the surrounding patterned wall and colorful rug situate her within a vibrant, contemporary domestic space.
Technique & Style
The work aligns with Neo‑Expressionist tendencies toward strong figuration and emotive color, yet retains a meticulous, almost photographic precision.
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a tight, realistic rendering of skin tones and fabric textures, emphasizing the play of light across the figure’s body and clothing. Bold, saturated hues—particularly greens, golds, and earthy browns—enhance the visual impact. The work aligns with Neo‑Expressionist tendencies toward strong figuration and emotive color, yet retains a meticulous, almost photographic precision.
History & Provenance
Hendricks produced this portrait amid his broader series of large‑scale depictions of Black Americans, a body of work that challenged prevailing artistic conventions of the era. After its creation, the painting entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view, illustrating the artist’s contribution to late‑20th‑century American portraiture.
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…
