Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Hannah Wilke. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1967 by American artist Hannah Wilke, this untitled drawing is executed in colored pencil and graphite on paper. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It consists of two stylized, profile-like forms that dominate the composition, set against a largely empty field with a faint horizontal band near the bottom.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing presents two rounded, head-like silhouettes viewed in profile. One figure contains a red circular motif filled with intersecting lines, evoking a target or lens, while the other bears a single thin line across its face. A sinuous line links the two shapes, suggesting a visual or conceptual connection between the paired entities.
Technique & Style
Wilke employs colored pencil for the vivid red circle and its cross‑hatched texture, contrasting with the smoother graphite lines that define the surrounding forms. The cross‑hatching creates a subtle surface relief, making the red element the sole area of pronounced tonal variation within the otherwise flat, minimalist drawing.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced early in Wilke’s career, a period marked by experimentation with drawing media. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection through acquisition in the late 20th century, where it has been displayed as part of exhibitions exploring feminist and conceptual art practices.
Context
During the late 1960s, Wilke’s work often interrogated the body, identity, and representation through abstracted forms. This drawing reflects those concerns by reducing the human head to geometric symbols, inviting viewers to consider perception, focus, and the relationship between distinct yet linked subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hannah Wilke (born Arlene Hannah Butter; was an American painter, sculptor, photographer, video artist and performance artist. Her work is known for exploring issues of feminism, sexuality and femininity.
