Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Gilbert Proesch, George Passmore Gilbert & George. It dates from 1974 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
One interesting thing about this painting is that it's not just one big picture, but eight smaller ones put together.
In front of you is a painting called Untitled, made by Gilbert & George in 1974. It's a big piece, made up of eight parts, and it's all in charcoal on paper and wood. The painting shows a forest with trees and people, and it's very detailed.
One interesting thing about this painting is that it's not just one big picture, but eight smaller ones put together. The artists used charcoal to draw the trees and people, and they did it in a very realistic way.
If you want to learn more about this style of art, you might want to look into the technique of cross-hatching.
Overview
Untitled is a 1974 drawing by the collaborative duo Gilbert & George, comprising Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore. Executed as a composite of eight individual sheets, the work unites charcoal applied directly to paper and charcoal transferred onto a wooden support. The piece is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as an example of the artists’ early experimental practice.
Technique & Style
The drawing employs charcoal, a medium valued for its capacity to render a wide tonal range. By arranging the eight panels side by side, the artists create a larger visual field while preserving the distinct surface qualities of each sheet. The use of cross‑hatching and layered strokes suggests a meticulous approach to line and shading, emphasizing texture and depth within the monochromatic palette.
History & Provenance
Created in 1974, Untitled reflects a period when Gilbert & George were establishing their joint visual language. The work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition, though the precise details of its purchase are not publicly recorded. Its presence in MoMA underscores the institution’s recognition of the duo’s contribution to contemporary drawing practices.
Context
During the early 1970s, Gilbert & George were exploring collaborative authorship and the blurring of individual artistic identities. Untitled, with its modular format and unified execution, exemplifies this inquiry, positioning the work within broader movements that questioned authorship, medium specificity, and the role of the artist’s hand in the production of art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gilbert Proesch, George Passmore Gilbert & George
Gilbert & George, Gilbert Proesch, George Passmore was a British artist.
