Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a pastel drawing by Jim Dine. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1976, this drawing by American artist Jim Dine combines charcoal, pastel, and pencil on paper. It depicts a nude child seated on the floor, gazing forward with an expressionless face, a metal sphere placed near the child's hand. The composition is framed by dark, smudged edges that give the paper a shadow‑like border. The work belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is a young child, rendered without clothing, positioned with bent legs and a hand resting on a reflective metal ball. The child's blank stare and the stark, unadorned setting invite contemplation of vulnerability and the tension between innocence and the weight of an object that reflects light.
Technique & Style
Dine employs a blend of charcoal, pastel, and pencil, allowing for soft, smudged lines that suggest the uneven texture of skin. The pastel contributes subtle tonal shifts, while charcoal provides deep shadows that define the surrounding darkness. The overall effect is a muted palette with a focus on tonal contrast rather than color.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the drawing has been held by the Museum of Modern Art, reflecting Dine’s broader practice across painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and photography. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection situates the work within the artist’s extensive output during the mid‑1970s.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jim Dine (born June 16, 1935) is an American visual artist. Dine's work includes painting, drawing, printmaking (in many forms including lithographs, etchings, gravure, intaglio, woodcuts, letterpress, and linocuts),…
