Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Chris Burden. It dates from 1975 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1975, this work consists of cut-and-pasted printed paper and felt‑tip pen applied to a board.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1975, this work consists of cut-and-pasted printed paper and felt‑tip pen applied to a board. The composition is a two‑part collage: a black‑and‑white magazine cover on the left and a brown‑toned page on the right, both adhered to the surface. The artist’s signature and brief handwritten notes appear within the right-hand section.
Subject & Meaning
The left panel features a close‑up of a nude torso whose eyes have been deliberately crossed out, suggesting a visual intervention that disrupts the original image. The right panel includes a small photograph of a man holding a rifle accompanied by text and the repeated handwritten word “good,” inviting consideration of themes such as violence, observation, and judgment.
Technique & Style
The piece employs a straightforward collage method, cutting printed matter from mass‑produced sources and reassembling it on a board. Felt‑tip pen is used for both the artist’s signature and the added handwritten annotations, emphasizing the hand‑made, low‑tech aesthetic that characterizes the artist’s practice during the mid‑1970s.
History & Provenance
Produced during a period when the artist was expanding beyond performance into sculpture and installation, the work reflects his broader experimental approach to everyday materials. It remains attributed to the artist and is documented as part of his 1975 output, though specific exhibition or collection history is not recorded in the available sources.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christopher Lee Burden (April 11, 1946 – May 10, 2015) was an American artist working in performance art, sculpture, and installation art.
