Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Christine Hiebert. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, this untitled work by Christine Hiebert combines charcoal with rabbit‑skin glue on paper. The piece belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s long‑standing focus on drawing as a primary medium.
Subject & Meaning
The surface is filled with a dense network of intersecting strokes, ranging from heavy, dark lines to faint, grayish traces. No recognizable imagery emerges; instead the composition suggests an abstract field of gesture, inviting viewers to contemplate the physicality of mark‑making itself.
Technique & Style
Hiebert mixes charcoal with rabbit‑skin glue, a medium that allows the pigment to spread and soften, producing blurred edges and a wet‑look quality. The resulting marks appear both hand‑drawn and fluid, blurring the line between drawing and painterly effects.
History & Provenance
Born in Switzerland and raised in Pennsylvania, Hiebert studied at the University of the Arts before establishing a career centered on drawing. Her works are held in major institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with this particular piece acquired by MoMA.
Context
The drawing aligns with a broader contemporary interest in material experimentation within drawing, where artists incorporate unconventional binders to alter charcoal’s texture. Hiebert’s approach reflects a dialogue between traditional drawing practices and modern concerns about surface and process.
Artist & collection
Artist
Christine Hiebert (born 1960) is a Swiss-born American artist known for her drawing.
