Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Lee Krasner. It dates from 1966 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Executed in a palette of stark white, deep black and saturated red, the composition is dominated by large, irregular shapes that hover over a dark field.
Lee Krasner’s 1966 work, Untitled, is an oil painting on canvas that exemplifies the abstract expressionist language of mid‑century American art. Executed in a palette of stark white, deep black and saturated red, the composition is dominated by large, irregular shapes that hover over a dark field. The piece is part of the museum’s permanent collection and reflects Krasner’s mature, non‑representational approach.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents no recognizable figures; instead, it offers a dynamic field of gestural forms that suggest faces or bodies without defining them. The juxtaposition of aggressive, rough outlines with softer, luminous areas creates a tension between presence and ambiguity, inviting viewers to consider the emotional resonance of color and shape rather than narrative content.
Technique & Style
Krasner applied paint thickly, employing impasto that gives the surface a tactile, uneven quality. Broad, forceful brushstrokes and occasional scraping reveal a vigorous handling of medium, while the limited chromatic scheme heightens contrast. The work’s gestural vigor and emphasis on materiality align it with the broader abstract expressionist emphasis on spontaneous, physical expression.
History & Provenance
Trained at Cooper Union and the National Academy of Design, Krasner absorbed Cubist ideas through Hans Hofmann and later absorbed modernist currents at MoMA in the 1920s. By the mid‑1960s she had integrated these influences into a distinct abstract language. Untitled entered the museum’s collection through acquisition in the late 20th century, where it remains on view as a representative example of her later oeuvre.
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.
