Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Joseph E. Yoakum. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a 1967 drawing by Joseph E. Yoakum, executed in blue and brown ballpoint pen and colored pencil on paper, currently in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a serene, dreamlike landscape featuring a blue river, rocky formations, and greenery. A handwritten note in the top-left corner references Mt. Popocatepetl near Mexico City, suggesting the work may have been inspired by a real location, adding a personal and potentially autobiographical layer to the piece.
Technique & Style
Yoakum's use of blue and brown ballpoint pens alongside colored pencils on paper generates a distinctive visual effect, characterized by intricate details that invite close examination.
History & Provenance
Created on September 14, 1967, the work is signed 'G.M. Joseph E. Yoakum' and dated, with its current ownership residing with The Museum of Modern Art.
Context
While specific contextual influences on this piece are not detailed, its creation falls within Yoakum's broader practice of producing landscapes that often blended realism with a personal, expressive vision.
Legacy
As part of Yoakum's body of work, 'Untitled' contributes to the artist's reputation for crafting intimate, detailed landscapes. However, without further information, its individual impact on broader artistic movements or trends is not clearly defined.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Elmer Yoakum was an American self-taught painter. He was of African-American and possibly of Native American–descent, and was known for his landscape paintings in the outsider art-style. He was age 76 when he…
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