Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Jake Berthot. It dates from 1977 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1977, this oil and graphite work on canvas presents three distinct colored rectangles set against a light gray, textured ground.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1977, this oil and graphite work on canvas presents three distinct colored rectangles set against a light gray, textured ground.
Created in 1977, this oil and graphite work on canvas presents three distinct colored rectangles set against a light gray, textured ground. The composition is dominated by a tall, bright yellow form on the left, while a smaller, bifurcated rectangle—half muted gold, half deep red—occupies the right side. The paint surface is thick and uneven, revealing the artist’s hand through visible brushstrokes.
Subject & Meaning
The painting is non‑representational, focusing on the interaction of geometric forms and color fields. The floating quality of the rectangles against the muted gray suggests a spatial ambiguity, inviting viewers to consider balance, tension, and the visual weight of each hue without reference to recognizable objects.
Technique & Style
Berthot combines oil paint with graphite, allowing the graphite to accentuate edges and introduce subtle linear marks. The application of oil is heavy and impasto, creating a tactile surface that contrasts with the smoother, almost dusty gray background. The work reflects a synthesis of minimalist geometry and the gestural qualities associated with abstract expressionism.
History & Provenance
This piece belongs to the early phase of the artist’s three‑decade career, a period marked by strict abstraction before his later shift in the mid‑1990s toward more emotive and occasionally figurative content. It remains documented as part of the contemporary abstract movement of the 1970s, though specific ownership details are not publicly recorded.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jake Berthot (1939–2014) was an American artist whose abstract paintings contained elements of both the minimalist and expressionist styles.
