Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a gouache drawing by Jörg Immendorff. It dates from 1978 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1978, this untitled work by German artist Jörg Immendorff consists of gouache applied to paper. The piece belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with the energetic visual language associated with the Neue Wilde movement.
Subject & Meaning
The composition is dominated by a dark field overlaid with stark white and black brushstrokes that generate a sense of motion. In the upper left corner, the phrase “CAFE DEUTSCHLAND” appears in white lettering, introducing a textual element that hints at a specific cultural reference while the surrounding abstract forms remain open to interpretation.
Technique & Style
Immendorff employed gouache, a water‑based medium that yields opaque, matte surfaces, allowing for vigorous, textured strokes. The tactile quality of the paint is evident in the visible brushwork, and the contrast between the dense background and the bright linear gestures underscores the artist’s preference for spontaneous, expressive execution.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the drawing entered the holdings of the Museum of Modern Art, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s representation of post‑war German art. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s broader effort to document the developments of the Neue Wilde and related avant‑garde currents.
Context
Immendorff was active across several media, including painting, sculpture, stage design, and teaching. By the late 1970s, his work was marked by a confrontational vigor that aligned with the broader Neo‑Expressionist resurgence in Europe, positioning this drawing within a period of heightened political and artistic experimentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jörg Immendorff (14 June 1945 – 28 May 2007) was a German painter, sculptor, stage designer and art professor. He was a member of the art movement Neue Wilde.
