Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Donald Sultan. It dates from 1986 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The form dominates the composition, its edges dissolving into subtle gray smudges that suggest a gradual transition from darkness to the surrounding surface.
Donald Sultan’s 1986 charcoal drawing, simply titled Untitled, consists of a single, expansive oval rendered in deep charcoal against a light paper ground. The form dominates the composition, its edges dissolving into subtle gray smudges that suggest a gradual transition from darkness to the surrounding surface. Minimal additional marks appear near the margins, leaving most of the paper virtually empty and emphasizing the central shape’s presence.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents an abstract, biomorphic silhouette that resists specific identification, inviting viewers to consider the interplay of mass and void. By isolating a solitary, softened form, Sultan explores notions of presence and absence, suggesting a contemplative space where the object’s interior is hinted at through tonal gradation rather than explicit detail.
Technique & Style
Sultan employed charcoal, applying it densely to create the oval’s core darkness before blending the edges with circular motions that produce a scumbled, smoky transition. This method yields a surface that appears both smooth and textured, allowing light to interact with the drawing in a way that suggests volume despite its two‑dimensional medium.
History & Provenance
Created in 1986, the drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in Sultan’s exploration of materiality and abstraction during the mid‑1980s, situating the piece within the museum’s broader holdings of contemporary drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Donald K. Sultan is an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker, particularly well known for large-scale still life paintings and the use of industrial materials such as tar, enamel, spackle and vinyl tiles. He has…
