Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Gerhard Richter. It dates from 2015 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 2015 work by Gerhard Richter, consists of a solitary sheet of paper covered in pencil. The drawing is abstract, lacking a defined subject, and resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Its modest dimensions and unassuming title invite viewers to focus on the gesture and surface rather than narrative content.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a field of irregular, wavering lines that suggest spontaneous marks rather than deliberate representation. Sparse, faint silhouettes emerge in the central void, hinting at architectural or arboreal forms, yet remain ambiguous. This openness encourages multiple readings, positioning the work as an exploration of perception and the boundary between drawing and suggestion.
Technique & Style
Richter employs a range of pencil applications, from light, barely perceptible strokes to denser, smudged passages. The paper’s grain contributes a tactile quality, while the uneven, wobbly lines convey a rapid, improvisational hand. The overall effect is a sketch-like immediacy, emphasizing process over polished finish and aligning with the artist’s broader interest in gestural abstraction.
History & Provenance
Created in 2015, the drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its completion, becoming part of the institution’s extensive Richter archive. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s commitment to documenting the artist’s diverse output, from large-scale paintings to intimate works on paper.
Context
During the mid-2010s, Richter revisited drawing as a means of recording fleeting ideas, often juxtaposing the medium’s intimacy with his reputation for monumental canvases. Untitled exemplifies this period of experimentation, where the artist used simple materials to probe the limits of abstraction and the immediacy of mark-making.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, photographs and glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists…
