Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Manfred Pernice. It dates from 1998 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1998 by Austrian artist Manfred Pernice, this untitled drawing resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Created in 1998 by Austrian artist Manfred Pernice, this untitled drawing resides in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Executed on paper, the work combines graphite, colored pencil, felt‑tip pen, colored ink and fragments of torn, pasted paper adhered with pressure‑sensitive tape. The composition is dominated by a single, elongated form that occupies the central field, set against a stark white background.
Subject & Meaning
The focal element appears as a slender, vertical object—reminiscent of a bottle or vase—rendered with clean, precise lines. Sparse scribbles and marginal marks surround the figure, suggesting a note‑taking or observational gesture. The minimal visual vocabulary invites contemplation of everyday objects stripped of context, emphasizing form over narrative.
Technique & Style
Pernice employs a mixed‑media approach, layering graphite and colored pencil strokes with ink washes before integrating torn paper pieces. The use of pressure‑sensitive tape to affix the paper introduces a tactile, collage quality while preserving the drawing’s overall flatness. The restrained palette and linear clarity align the piece with minimalist drawing practices of the late 1990s.
History & Provenance
The work was produced in 1998 and entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly thereafter, though the exact acquisition date is not publicly recorded. Its presence in MoMA situates it among other contemporary drawings that explore material hybridity and conceptual reduction.
Context
During the late 1990s, artists increasingly blended traditional drawing media with collage and assemblage techniques to question the boundaries of the medium. Pernice’s untitled piece reflects this trend, juxtaposing meticulous draftsmanship with the spontaneity of torn paper, thereby commenting on the interplay between order and chance in visual art.
Artist & collection
