Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Diego Rivera. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1928, this untitled work by Diego Rivera consists of watercolor and pencil applied to graph paper removed from a sketchbook. Classified as a drawing, it is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art. The piece captures a brief, domestic moment rendered with the immediacy typical of Rivera’s preparatory studies.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a seated man at a small table, his left hand lifted to his face in a contemplative gesture. He wears a dark jacket over a light shirt, and short brown hair frames his profile. On the table lie a teacup with saucer and a plate bearing what appears to be bread, suggesting a quiet, everyday routine.
Technique & Style
Rivera employed watercolor washes alongside pencil lines on the ruled surface of graph paper, a choice that imparts a spontaneous, sketch‑like quality. The medium allows for soft tonal transitions, while the pencil delineates form, creating a balance between fluid color and precise draftsmanship.
History & Provenance
The work originated as part of a disbound sketchbook, indicating its function as a study rather than a finished piece. After remaining in private hands, it entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it is displayed as an example of Rivera’s early exploration of watercolor as a means of rapid visual notation.
Context
In the late 1920s Rivera was engaged in a period of experimentation beyond his large‑scale murals, exploring intimate subjects and varied media. This drawing reflects that phase, focusing on a mundane interior scene rather than the social narratives that dominate his public commissions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the mural movement in Mexican and international art.
