Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Joseph Stella. It dates from 1939 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1939, this untitled drawing by Joseph Stella is executed in wash and charcoal on paper. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It presents a loosely rendered figure, composed of swift, gestural marks that give the piece an immediate, sketch‑like quality.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts the side profile of an elderly man, his head and shoulders rendered with a down‑turned gaze. A white beard and faint indications of eyes and mouth suggest age and contemplation. Behind the figure, irregular wing‑like forms emerge, hinting at an allegorical or symbolic dimension that extends beyond the portrait.
Technique & Style
Stella employs a combination of wash and charcoal, allowing the paper’s warm, off‑white surface to show through the light, almost translucent marks. The charcoal is applied in delicate, faded strokes, while the wings are suggested with rapid, uneven lines that resemble a scumbled texture, emphasizing spontaneity over finish.
History & Provenance
The drawing dates to the late 1930s, a period when Stella was exploring more informal, gestural approaches. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on view as an example of his experimental drawing practice during that era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Stella was an Italian-born American Futurist painter best known for his depictions of industrial America, especially his images of the Brooklyn Bridge. He is also associated with the American Precisionist movement of the 1910s–1940s.
