Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by John Baldessari. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1973, this work by John Baldessari consists of a sheet of paper mounted on paperboard, bearing repeated lines of typed text and a brief handwritten annotation. The phrase "haste makes waste" appears multiple times in a uniform typeface, arranged vertically, while a penciled note at the bottom references a video source and the date of production.
Subject & Meaning
The piece foregrounds language as visual material, inviting viewers to consider the visual impact of repetitive wording. By presenting a common proverb in a mechanical format, Baldessari draws attention to the tension between the content of the phrase and its stripped-down, almost bureaucratic presentation, prompting reflection on how meaning is altered when stripped of context.
Technique & Style
Baldessari employed a typewriter to generate the uniform text, then added a handwritten remark in pencil. The work merges mechanical reproduction with a personal, hand‑written element, exemplifying his practice of juxtaposing formal, impersonal media with informal, authorial gestures. The minimalist layout underscores his interest in the materiality of language.
History & Provenance
The drawing is part of the Museum of Modern Art's collection, acquired after Baldessari's shift from painting to conceptual practices in the 1960s. Its creation coincides with his broader experimentation with text, photography, and video, marking a period when he was expanding his artistic vocabulary beyond traditional painting.
Context
During the early 1970s, conceptual art emphasized ideas over aesthetic objects, and Baldessari's work reflects this trend by treating text as a visual object. The reference to a video tape in the handwritten note suggests the piece may have originated as a frame from a larger time‑based work, later isolated as a static image.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Anthony Baldessari (June 17, 1931 – January 2, 2020) was an American conceptual artist known for his work featuring found photography and appropriated images.
