Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Jake Berthot. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled (1998) is a charcoal and pencil drawing on paper by American artist Jake Berthot, characterized by its abstract yet emotionally charged depiction of a natural form.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing features a solitary, twisted tree set against a minimally suggested, flat landscape. The tree's wildly branching, tangled form conveys a sense of dynamic energy and emotional intensity, reflecting Berthot's post-1995 shift towards incorporating figurative elements with heightened emotional content into his otherwise abstract work.
Technique & Style
Berthot employed quick, expressive strokes with charcoal and pencil, resulting in a rough, vibrant tree form. The sparse, faint ground and visible paper in unmarked areas contribute to an unfinished, spontaneous aesthetic, contrasting with the dense, intricate network of the tree's branches.
History & Provenance
Created in 1998, after Berthot's studio relocation to upstate New York, the piece is now part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection. Berthot was a prolific exhibitor in both commercial and public galleries throughout his career.
Context
This work reflects Berthot's transitional period post-1995, where his abstract style, previously minimalist and expressionist in painting, began to embrace more figurative and emotionally expressive elements in response to his new rural environment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jake Berthot (1939–2014) was an American artist whose abstract paintings contained elements of both the minimalist and expressionist styles.
