Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by James Wyeth. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Created in 1976, this gouache, watercolor, and pencil drawing on board presents a solitary male figure in profile.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1976, this gouache, watercolor, and pencil drawing on board presents a solitary male figure in profile. The composition is dominated by a muted, light‑brown field that serves as backdrop to the sharply defined silhouette. The work resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is catalogued without a title.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a man turned to the left, his short white hair and dark jacket contrasting with a crisp white shirt. The minimalist rendering emphasizes the contours of the face and head, inviting contemplation of identity and presence through reduced visual information rather than narrative detail.
Technique & Style
Wyeth combines gouache and watercolor washes with pencil line work, using loose, expressive strokes for the hair and subtle shading to model the facial plane. The limited palette—primarily whites, browns, and dark accents—creates a restrained yet nuanced surface, highlighting the artist’s focus on form and tonal balance.
History & Provenance
The drawing was produced by James Wyeth, an American artist known for his figurative work, during the mid‑1970s. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings shortly after its creation, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s modern drawing collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Browning Wyeth is an American realist painter, son of Andrew Wyeth, and grandson of N.C.
