Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Marlene Dumas. It dates from 1987 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1987, this work is a watercolor and ink drawing on paper by Marlene Dumas, an artist born in South Africa and currently based in the Netherlands. The piece is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. It presents a loosely rendered, blurred human face with half‑closed eyes and an indistinct mouth, rendered in soft, bleeding ink lines.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts an ambiguous portrait, its features smudged and indistinct, suggesting a fleeting or remembered presence rather than a specific individual. Dumas frequently explores questions of race, gender, and identity, and the ghostly quality of the figure invites contemplation of how personal and collective memories are constructed and obscured.
Technique & Style
The drawing combines watercolor washes with ink that has bled before drying, producing a hazy, translucent effect. The loose, gestural lines and the interplay of pigment and paper create a sense of fragility, echoing the artist’s practice of working from photographic sources rather than direct observation.
History & Provenance
Since its completion in 1987, the work has been retained by the Museum of Modern Art, where it is displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of contemporary drawing. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in Dumas’s contributions to late‑20th‑century painting and drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marlene Dumas (born 3 August 1953) is a South African artist and painter based in the Netherlands. Dumas currently lives and works in the Netherlands and is one of the country's most prolific artists.
