Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Neo Expressionist artist Christopher Le Brun. It dates from 1983 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Christopher Le Brun painted this oil on canvas work in 1983, part of his engagement with Neo-Expressionism during the early 1980s. The piece is held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art. Le Brun, born in 1951, would later become President of the Royal Academy of Arts from 2011 to 2019 and was knighted in 2021 for his service to visual art.
Subject & Meaning
A faint, blurred form resembling a horse emerges between two bold red vertical shapes. The horse lacks clear definition, appearing as an ethereal trace rather than a solid figure. The red forms suggest structural or symbolic barriers—possibly evoking violence, ritual, or emotional intensity—while the chaotic background resists narrative clarity, emphasizing mood over representation.
Technique & Style
Le Brun applied paint thickly using impasto, leaving visible, textured brushstrokes that build physical depth on the canvas. Dark blues, blacks, and muted yellows form a turbulent ground, while the red columns and white horse stand out through contrast and density. The rough handling of paint heightens the sense of urgency and raw expression, aligning with Neo-Expressionist priorities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1983, the painting entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its completion. It reflects Le Brun’s shift from earlier figurative work toward more emotionally charged abstraction. No public record indicates prior ownership before the museum’s acquisition, suggesting direct acquisition from the artist or a gallery representing him at the time.
Context
This work emerged during a resurgence of expressive painting in Europe and America, as artists reacted against minimalism and conceptual art. Le Brun’s use of primal forms and aggressive brushwork aligned with contemporaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Anselm Kiefer, though his imagery remained more ambiguous and less overtly political.
Legacy
Though not among Le Brun’s most widely reproduced works, *Untitled* exemplifies his early commitment to emotional resonance through materiality. It contributes to understanding his evolution from painter to institutional leader, reflecting a broader moment when British artists reasserted painting’s capacity for psychological depth amid shifting artistic trends.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Christopher Mark Le Brun (born 1951) is a British artist, known primarily as a painter. President of the Royal Academy of Arts from 2011 to December 2019, Le Brun was knighted in the 2021 New Year Honours "for services to the arts".
