Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Jennifer Bartlett. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1976, this untitled drawing by American artist Jennifer Bartlett consists of colored pencil and ballpoint pen marks applied to graph paper.
Created in 1976, this untitled drawing by American artist Jennifer Bartlett consists of colored pencil and ballpoint pen marks applied to graph paper. The composition centers on a large rectangle populated by a dense field of small squares rendered in blue, yellow and brown. Though the overall effect appears orderly, individual squares tilt or overlap, generating a subtle sense of dynamism within a restrained, puzzle‑like arrangement.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents an abstract grid that functions both as a visual system and a compositional game. By arranging colored squares in a seemingly logical yet slightly disrupted pattern, Bartlett invites viewers to consider the tension between order and deviation, suggesting how structured processes can yield unexpected visual energy.
Technique & Style
Bartlett employs the precision of graph paper as a structural framework, while the hand‑drawn colored pencils and ballpoint pen introduce a tactile, painterly quality. The juxtaposition of meticulous grid lines with the irregular placement of colored units reflects her practice of merging conceptual rigor with the expressive gestures associated with Neo‑Expressionism.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of post‑1970s American art. Its acquisition underscores MoMA’s interest in works that embody the crossover between conceptual strategies and more gestural, material concerns.
Context
Bartlett is widely recognized for her grid‑based series, often executed on enamel‑coated steel plates. This paper drawing diverges from that signature format, offering a more intimate, portable iteration of her systematic approach. It reflects a period in the mid‑1970s when she was expanding the media through which she explored repetitive structures and color relationships.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jennifer Bartlett (née Losch; March 14, 1941 – July 25, 2022) was an American artist and novelist.
