Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Charles Demuth. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
You see a few quick pencil lines and washes of watercolor—soft pinks, blues, and yellows—floating on white paper like stage lights.
You see a few quick pencil lines and washes of watercolor—soft pinks, blues, and yellows—floating on white paper like stage lights.
Demuth made this in 1917 while watching vaudeville shows. The loose shapes suggest performers in motion, but nothing is spelled out. It feels like a private sketch, not a finished picture.
To see how watercolor can glow in layers, look up the technique called glazing.
Overview
Untitled is a drawing by Charles Demuth, created in 1917 using watercolor and pencil on paper. It is part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts loose, abstracted forms in soft pastel hues, evoking the dynamic movement of vaudeville performers. The imagery is suggestive rather than explicit, giving the impression of a private, observational sketch.
Technique & Style
Demuth employed watercolor washes and quick pencil lines to achieve a sense of fluidity and spontaneity. The layered application of watercolor, possibly utilizing a glazing technique, contributes to the drawing's luminous quality.
Context
The drawing was created in 1917, a time when Demuth was frequenting vaudeville shows, which likely influenced the work's themes and loose, expressive style.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Henry Buckius Demuth (November 8, 1883 – October 23, 1935) was an American painter who specialized in watercolors and turned to oils late in his career, developing a style of painting known as Precisionism.
