Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Elie Nadelman. It dates from 1924 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1924, this ink and pencil drawing on paper is an untitled work by Elie Nadelman, a Polish‑American artist linked to the School of Paris. The piece belongs to the Museum of Modern Art’s collection and exemplifies Nadelman’s practice of combining drawing with his sculptural sensibility.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a side profile of a human head and neck rendered with swift, gestural lines. Dark, wavy hair frames a slightly tilted eye and a simplified nose, focusing attention on the facial features while the empty background emphasizes the figure’s anonymity.
Technique & Style
Nadelman employs both ink and pencil, allowing the media to intersect for tonal variation and subtle shading. The marks are intentionally loose and imperfect, suggesting an immediate, exploratory approach rather than a finished portrait, a quality characteristic of his modernist experimentation with form.
History & Provenance
After its creation in the early 1920s, the drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains accessible for study. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in documenting Nadelman’s contribution to modern art and his engagement with folk‑inspired aesthetics.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elie Nadelman (born Eliasz Nadelman; February 20, 1882 – December 28, 1946) was a Polish-American sculptor, draughtsman of the School of Paris and a collector of folk art.
