Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by David Hammons. It dates from 1969 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1969, this untitled work by David Hammons is a pigment drawing on board in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The piece presents a vague, shadow-like human form rendered in smudged, indistinct strokes, suggesting a figure caught in motion or contemplation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition suggests a solitary figure with one arm extended and an open hand, evoking a gesture of reaching or offering. The lack of precise detail invites viewers to project personal narratives onto the ambiguous silhouette, emphasizing themes of presence and absence.
Technique & Style
Hammons employs loose application of pigment, allowing the medium to bleed and blur across the board. The drawing lacks defined lines, relying instead on smears and uneven textures that create a chiaroscuro effect through contrast between dark streaks and the light surface.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after its creation in the late 1960s, a period when Hammons was exploring minimalist and conceptual approaches. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in documenting the artist’s early experimental drawings.
Context
Produced during a time of heightened social and artistic experimentation, the piece aligns with Hammons’s broader practice of using unconventional materials and ambiguous imagery to question representation and identity within contemporary art.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Hammons is an American artist, best known for his works in and around New York City and Los Angeles during the 1970s and 1980s.
