Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Jacques Charlier. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Jacques Charlier’s 1974 drawing, an untitled work in ink and pencil on paper, belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The composition is densely populated with numerous sketch‑like heads, each oriented differently, creating a bustling tableau of interaction.
Subject & Meaning
The figures appear engaged in a range of activities—talking, laughing, shouting—conveying a sense of communal chatter. Interspersed French and English words, some rendered as speech balloons and others as marginal notes, add layers of verbal texture that amplify the scene’s lively, chaotic atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Charlier employs rapid, uneven lines that suggest an impulsive drawing process, with thick strokes juxtaposed against finer pencil marks. The varied facial details—wild hair, glasses, weary or bewildered expressions—are rendered with minimal shading, emphasizing gesture over precise modeling.
History & Provenance
Created in 1974, the piece entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s interest in mid‑20th‑century drawing practices that explore spontaneous mark‑making and narrative fragmentation.
Artist & collection
