Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Grace Hartigan. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Grace Hartigan’s 1967 untitled work is an ink drawing executed on a clear acetate sheet. The piece belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as an example of the artist’s experimental approach to drawing media.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of expansive, gestural black ink forms that dominate a pale ground, suggesting a spontaneous, almost improvisational gesture. The irregular shapes and torn‑paper‑like fragments evoke a sense of raw, unmediated expression rather than a representational scene.
Technique & Style
Hartigan applied thick, uneven ink strokes directly onto the transparent plastic support, allowing the substrate’s translucency to affect the visual effect. The medium creates a layered appearance, where dark patches contrast with lighter areas, emphasizing the materiality of the ink and the surface.
History & Provenance
Created in 1967, the drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection, reflecting the institution’s interest in mid‑century American abstraction and Hartigan’s role within that movement. Its acquisition underscores the museum’s commitment to preserving experimental works on unconventional supports.
Context
During the 1960s Hartigan explored beyond traditional canvas, experimenting with non‑absorbent surfaces like acetate to challenge conventional drawing practices. This period saw many artists investigating new materials, aligning her work with broader trends in post‑war American art toward process‑oriented experimentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Grace Hartigan was an American abstract expressionist painter and a significant member of the vibrant New York School of the 1950s and 1960s.
