Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a charcoal drawing by Lee Krasner. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Lee Krasner's 1940 drawing *Untitled* is a charcoal-on-paper work characterized by bold, geometric forms and expressive shading, depicting a seated figure in a room with a window.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing portrays a person sitting in a chair, abstracted into sharp, intersecting lines and blocks, set against a textured, rough-hewn background suggesting a wall with a window frame. The figure's stylization, resembling puzzle pieces, may reflect Krasner's exploration of form and space.
Technique & Style
Krasner employed thick, overlapping lines and intense cross-hatching to build volume and depth, creating a scratched, high-contrast effect in black and white. This technique, combined with geometric simplification, aligns with her Cubist influences and emerging Abstract Expressionist tendencies.
History & Provenance
Created during Krasner's period of study with Hans Hofmann (from 1937 onwards), *Untitled* reflects her absorption of Cubist principles. The work is now part of The Museum of Modern Art's collection.
Context
Developed in the early 1940s, this piece situates Krasner within the transitional moment from Cubism to Abstract Expressionism, influenced by her training and the contemporary New York art scene, including her exposure to Post-Impressionism at MoMA.
Legacy
As one of Krasner's early explorations of abstracted form, *Untitled* contributes to the broader narrative of women's contributions to Abstract Expressionism and the evolution of mid-20th-century American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lenore "Lee" Krasner (born Lena Krassner; October 27, 1908 – June 19, 1984) was an American painter and visual artist active primarily in New York whose work has been associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement.
