Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil drawing by Betty Goodwin. It dates from 1996 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1996, this untitled work by Canadian artist Betty Goodwin combines oilstick, pastel, graphite and charcoal on a clear plastic sheet. The composition is tall and narrow, dominated by smudged gray and black tones, with a faint, ladder‑like form incised across the center. The piece belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Technique & Style
The handling of thick, tactile applications recalls the impasto approach, though here the medium is dry and the substrate is non‑traditional.
Goodwin applied the media to the plastic surface while it remained wet, allowing the layers to stay pliable for an extended period. She repeatedly pressed, smeared and erased the marks, producing a textured surface that retains a sense of movement and impermanence. The handling of thick, tactile applications recalls the impasto approach, though here the medium is dry and the substrate is non‑traditional.
Subject & Meaning
The central ladder motif, rendered in faint, half‑dissolved strokes, does not suggest ascent or descent but rather exists as a suspended gesture. The overall effect evokes fleeting sensations such as breath or memory, aligning with Goodwin’s interest in portraying the intangible aspects of human experience through layered, ambiguous forms.
History & Provenance
Since its completion, the drawing has been part of the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, reflecting the institution’s commitment to contemporary Canadian art. Its acquisition underscores Goodwin’s reputation as a multidisciplinary practitioner whose work engages with personal and universal themes through unconventional materials.
Artist & collection
Artist
Betty Roodish Goodwin, (March 19, 1923 – December 1, 2008) was a multidisciplinary Canadian artist who expressed the complexity of human experience through her work.
