Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Georg Baselitz. 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 German artist Georg Baselitz is part of the Museum of Modern Art’s collection. Executed with pencil and charcoal on a modestly sized off‑white sheet of paper, the work presents a solitary, side‑profile portrait rendered in a highly gestural manner.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a single human head turned in profile, mouth slightly ajar and eyes directed downward. The expressive, almost frantic line work suggests an emotional intensity, inviting viewers to contemplate the inner state of the sitter rather than a literal likeness.
Technique & Style
Baselitz employs loose, overlapping strokes of pencil and charcoal, allowing the medium’s darkness to contrast with the paper’s pale tone. Scratches and scribbles accumulate to define facial features, while the overall approach remains sketch‑like, emphasizing spontaneity over precise modeling.
History & Provenance
Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, the drawing has remained in the institution’s holdings since its addition to the collection. No further exhibition history or previous owners are recorded in the available documentation.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Baselitz was exploring figurative drawing after his earlier focus on large‑scale paintings and sculptures. Its raw, gestural quality aligns with his broader interest in confronting the viewer with unsettled, often ambiguous human forms.
Artist & collection
Artist
Georg Baselitz was a German-Austrian painter, sculptor and graphic artist. In the 1960s he became well known for his figurative, expressive paintings. In 1969 he began painting his subjects upside down in an effort to…
