Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Bertina Lopes. It dates from 1970 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1970, this untitled oil on canvas by Brazilian artist Bertina Lopes belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The work is non‑representational, employing a chaotic arrangement of forms that dominate the surface. Its composition is dominated by stark contrasts of red, black and white, generating a visual intensity that immediately captures the viewer’s attention.
Subject & Meaning
Although abstract, the painting suggests a scene of tension: gestural shapes evoke outstretched hands, a coiling serpentine line, and figures that appear startled. The ambiguous imagery invites interpretations related to conflict, vulnerability, or primal instinct, reflecting the artist’s interest in expressing emotional states through symbolic, rather than literal, representation.
Technique & Style
Lopes applied the paint in thick impasto, allowing the medium to stand out from the canvas in a tactile, almost sculptural manner. The brushwork is vigorous and hurried, producing rough, uneven edges that convey urgency. The limited palette and bold strokes reinforce the work’s raw energy, aligning it with mid‑century abstract expressionist tendencies while retaining a distinct personal voice.
History & Provenance
The canvas entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after being acquired shortly after its creation, though the exact acquisition date is not publicly recorded. Its presence in the museum’s collection underscores the institution’s commitment to representing diverse international artists from the late twentieth century.
Context
Lopes was active during a period when Brazilian artists were gaining greater visibility on the global stage, often integrating expressive abstraction with cultural narratives. This painting reflects the broader artistic currents of the 1970s, when artists worldwide explored gestural abstraction as a means of confronting social and personal anxieties.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bertina Lopes was a Mozambican-born, Italian painter and sculptor. Lopes' work displays a deep African sensibility with saturated colours and bold compositions of mask-like figures and geometric forms. She has been…
