Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by David Storey. It dates from 2004 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
It depicts two figures engaged with an oversized double bass, rendered in stark contrasts of black and white.
Created in 2004, this charcoal drawing by David Storey is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It depicts two figures engaged with an oversized double bass, rendered in stark contrasts of black and white. The composition eliminates background detail, focusing attention on the figures and instrument. The medium’s immediacy and the bold, flat forms contribute to a graphic, almost symbolic quality.
Subject & Meaning
Two figures interact with a double bass that dominates the frame, one seated and bowing, the other standing and cradling the scroll. Their simplified forms suggest archetypes rather than individuals, evoking a sense of ritual or shared labor. The instrument’s scale implies emotional or musical weight, though the scene remains ambiguous—neither narrative nor humorous, but quietly ceremonial.
Technique & Style
Storey employed charcoal to create dense, unmodulated areas of black against the paper’s white ground. Lines are deliberate and minimal, reducing anatomy to essential shapes. The absence of shading or texture enhances the drawing’s flatness, aligning it with graphic design principles. The effect is one of reduction—forms are distilled to their structural core, emphasizing presence over detail.
History & Provenance
The work was acquired by The Museum of Modern Art shortly after its creation in 2004. It has not been widely exhibited outside the museum’s permanent collection. No prior ownership or exhibition history is documented beyond its inclusion in the museum’s holdings, suggesting it entered the collection directly from the artist’s studio.
Context
Storey’s work from this period often explores the relationship between human figures and oversized objects, questioning scale and function. This drawing aligns with broader postwar tendencies in drawing to prioritize gesture and abstraction over realism. Its minimalism reflects an interest in visual economy, resonating with contemporaneous practices in both fine art and illustration.
Legacy
While not widely reproduced, the drawing contributes to Storey’s reputation for reimagining everyday objects through stripped-down forms. Its influence is subtle, seen in later artists who use charcoal to explore symbolic weight and spatial tension. The work remains a quiet example of how reduction can amplify emotional resonance without narrative explanation.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Malcolm Storey was an English playwright, screenwriter, award-winning novelist and a professional rugby league player.
