Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Ben Shahn. It dates from 1954 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1954, this ink drawing on paper is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1954, this ink drawing on paper is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work is unsigned, presenting a solitary figure in a suit rendered in stark black-and-white.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a man with a serious expression, his forehead marked by pronounced lines and a faint frown. He holds a cigarette, gazing at it contemplatively, suggesting introspection or a moment of private thought.
Technique & Style
Shahn employs thick, scratchy strokes to model the face, giving it a three‑dimensional quality. The hands are rendered with rapid, sketchy lines, while cross‑hatching builds the shadows, creating depth through layered ink work.
History & Provenance
American artist Ben Shahn, born in 1898 in the Russian Empire and emigrating to the United States in 1906, produced this drawing during a period when his practice was increasingly focused on social and political subjects. The piece entered MoMA’s collection as part of its mid‑20th‑century American holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ben Shahn (September 12, 1898 – March 14, 1969) was an American artist. He is best known for his works of social realism, his left-wing political views, and his series of lectures published as The Shape of Content. Born…
