Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a pastel drawing by George Condo. It dates from 1989 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1989, this untitled work by American artist George Condo combines pastel and charcoal on a brown paper support. The drawing measures a substantial size, presenting an abstracted human-like figure rendered in muted brown and black tones. It is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a single, elongated figure whose limbs intertwine and whose hands rise above the head. A curved line conceals the face, emphasizing gesture over identity. The fragmented forms and overlapping shapes convey a sense of kinetic energy, suggesting movement and tension within the abstracted body.
Technique & Style
Condo employs both pastel and charcoal, allowing for a range of values from deep black to warm brown. The medium is applied on textured brown paper, creating a tactile surface where lines intersect and areas of color are layered. The drawing reflects his broader practice of blending figurative distortion with abstracted forms.
History & Provenance
George Condo, born in 1957, has worked across painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking, establishing his career in New York City. This particular drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, where it remains accessible for study and public viewing, representing an early stage of his mature style.
Context
Produced toward the end of the 1980s, the work aligns with Condo’s exploration of hybrid figures that merge classical portraiture with contemporary abstraction. The piece reflects the broader artistic climate of the period, marked by a resurgence of figurative experimentation and a questioning of traditional representation in drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Condo (born 1957) is an American visual artist who works in painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. He lives and works in New York City.
