Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Jacob El Hanani. It dates from 1979 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Jacob El Hanani’s 1979 drawing, untitled, is an ink work on paper held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The piece consists of a square sheet entirely filled with a uniform field of fine, light‑gray lines arranged in tight, parallel rows that cover the surface without forming any recognizable image.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents no figurative subject; instead it foregrounds the act of drawing itself. By repeating the same line thousands of times, the piece invites contemplation of labor, repetition, and the visual impact of minimal variation within a seemingly simple system.
Technique & Style
El Hanani employs a meticulous cross‑hatching method, using a single ink tone to create a dense, textured surface. The lines are rendered so closely that they merge into a continuous tone, blurring the distinction between line and shade while emphasizing the hand‑made quality of the mark.
History & Provenance
Created in 1979, the drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings at an unspecified date, becoming part of the institution’s representation of late‑20th‑century drawing practices.
Context
The piece aligns with a broader interest among artists of the 1970s in process‑oriented work and the exploration of minimal visual vocabularies. Its emphasis on repetitive mark‑making reflects contemporary investigations into the boundaries between drawing, painting, and conceptual art.
Artist & collection
