Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a wood drawing by Hannah Wilke. It dates from 1974 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 1974 work by Hannah Wilke, combines disparate materials on wood: an antique postcard and a scattering of kneaded erasers. Now part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection, this piece juxtaposes a static, historical image with dynamic, everyday objects.
Subject & Meaning
The antique postcard depicts an arched, stone-walled room with a patterned ceiling, evoking a sense of antiquity and architectural grandeur. The erasers, positioned as if spilling from the postcard's edge, introduce a sense of movement and disruption, blurring the boundary between the depicted space and the physical artwork.
Technique & Style
Wilke's technique involves the strategic placement of mundane objects (kneaded erasers) in relation to a found image (the postcard), characteristic of her practice of recontextualizing everyday items to challenge perceptions. The simplicity of the composition belies a thoughtful interrogation of image, object, and space.
History & Provenance
Created in 1974, Untitled is now held in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, indicating its recognition within the canon of modern and contemporary art.
Context
This work reflects Wilke's broader artistic approach, which often incorporated ordinary materials to subvert expectations and explore the interplay between different mediums and meanings. The use of a postcard, a common, ephemeral item, alongside erasers, highlights her interest in the everyday as a subject for artistic inquiry.
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.
