Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Knud Merrild. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1936 by Danish artist Knud Merrild, this untitled work is a drawing executed with gesso, wax and pencil on paper. It belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as an example of Merrill’s experimental approach to surface and form.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a compact, block‑like figure with a disproportionately large, rounded head and minimal eye openings. Thick, stubby arms terminate in blunt, rounded ends, giving the creature an ambiguous, almost totemic presence that invites contemplation of abstraction versus representation.
Technique & Style
Merrill built the figure through successive layers of gesso and wax, creating a dense, sculptural surface on a two‑dimensional support. Pencil marks add texture to a muted gray background, while occasional color patches break the monotony, emphasizing the work’s tactile quality and its blend of drawing and low relief.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings after being acquired directly from the artist’s estate in the mid‑20th century. Since then it has been included in several exhibitions exploring early modernist experiments in materiality and drawing.
Context
Produced during a period when Merrill was investigating the boundaries between painting, drawing and sculpture, the piece reflects broader interwar interests in simplifying forms and exploring new media. Its blocky figure resonates with contemporary trends toward abstraction and the use of industrial‑like materials.
Artist & collection
