Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink drawing by Marcel Broodthaers. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
The rest of the page has messy ink lines and a scrawled phrase in French: *"d’un voyage utopique par monts et par vaux.
This looks like a sketchy journal page. The top has the word "Journal" written in loose letters. Below it, a tiny green box shows three stick-figure people in a hot-air balloon floating over a flat, pale landscape. The rest of the page has messy ink lines and a scrawled phrase in French: *"d’un voyage utopique par monts et par vaux."*
The date "Berlin, le 25 octobre 1973" is scribbled in the corner, but the rest of the writing is blank or smudged. It feels like a half-finished note about an imaginary trip.
If this style of drawing intrigues you, check out lithography next—it’s how this sketch was made.
Overview
Untitled is a mixed-media drawing by Marcel Broodthaers, created in 1973, comprising ink, colored ink, and lithograph on four sheets of paper.
Subject & Meaning
The work features a whimsical scene with stick figures in a hot-air balloon, accompanied by the phrase 'd'un voyage utopique par monts et par vaux,' suggesting a fantastical journey. The title 'Journal' and dated notation imply a personal, unfinished note.
Technique & Style
The drawing combines lithography with spontaneous, gestural marks in ink, yielding a sketchy, informal appearance. The loose lettering and scrawled text contribute to the work's improvisational feel.
History & Provenance
Dated 'Berlin, le 25 octobre 1973,' the work is held at The Museum of Modern Art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marcel Broodthaers (1924–1976) was a Belgian artist, born in Saint-Gilles.
