Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Everlyn Nicodemus. It dates from 1988 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1988, this untitled drawing by Everlyn Nicodemus is executed in pencil and charcoal on paper and is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection.
Created in 1988, this untitled drawing by Everlyn Nicodemus is executed in pencil and charcoal on paper and is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. The composition presents a dimly lit interior where a solitary figure is perched on a chair, surrounded by rough, block‑like walls and a stone‑stepped floor. A narrow window admits a thin beam of light that slices across the space, defining the mood of the scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a lone individual hunched in a chair within a shadowy room, suggesting introspection or confinement. The stark contrast between the darkness of the walls and the bright sliver of light from the window may allude to themes of isolation, the intrusion of external reality, or a moment of quiet contemplation within an oppressive environment.
Technique & Style
Nicodemus builds form through dense, repetitive line work, employing a cross‑hatching approach that resembles a woven texture. The interplay of pencil and charcoal creates a tactile surface, with the charcoal providing deep shadows and the pencil rendering finer gradations. This method gives the drawing a sculptural quality, as the overlapping strokes generate a sense of depth and three‑dimensionality on a flat plane.
History & Provenance
The drawing was completed in 1988 and subsequently entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in contemporary drawing practices of the late twentieth century, highlighting Nicodemus’s contribution to the medium during that period.
Artist & collection
