Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Ernst Neizvestny. It dates from 1964 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
This sketch shows a face in profile, but it’s not quite right—one side of the head is stretched into a messy, tangled mess of lines and shapes.
This sketch shows a face in profile, but it’s not quite right—one side of the head is stretched into a messy, tangled mess of lines and shapes. The other side looks more normal, with a nose, lips, and a hint of a jaw. The drawing is all in pencil and ink, with heavy shading that makes some parts look dark and rough.
The weird mix of smooth and messy lines is the point—it feels like the artist was playing with how we see faces. The signature in the corner says it’s by Ernst Neizvestny, and it’s from 1964.
If this style intrigues you, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ernst Iosifovich Neizvestny (Russian: Эрнст Ио́сифович Неизве́стный; 9 April 1925 – 9 August 2016) was a Russian sculptor, painter, graphic artist, and art philosopher.
