Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a wood painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Mateo Manaure. It dates from 1954 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1954, this untitled work by Venezuelan modernist Mateo Manaure consists of synthetic polymer paint applied to a wooden panel. The composition is non‑representational, organized through geometric forms rendered in vivid hues. It belongs to the museum’s permanent collection and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with mid‑century abstract expressionist tendencies.
Subject & Meaning
The painting does not depict recognizable objects; instead, it explores the interaction of shape and color. Bold, intersecting planes generate a rhythmic visual field that invites viewers to consider balance and tension within an abstract language, reflecting Manaure’s interest in pure visual experience over narrative content.
Technique & Style
Manaure employed synthetic polymer paint—a relatively new medium in the early 1950s—allowing for intense saturation and long‑lasting chroma on the wood substrate. The brushwork is smooth and controlled, emphasizing flat, geometric areas rather than gestural strokes, aligning the piece with the broader abstract expressionist movement while retaining a distinct, orderly aesthetic.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the work entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it has been displayed as part of the institution’s holdings of mid‑century Latin American abstraction. Its acquisition reflects MoMA’s effort to document the global spread of abstract expressionism during the post‑war period.
Context
Manaure’s practice emerged amid a flourishing Venezuelan avant‑garde that sought to integrate international modernist ideas with local artistic developments. By 1954, synthetic polymer paints were gaining popularity among artists seeking brighter, more durable colors, and this piece illustrates how such materials facilitated new visual possibilities within the abstract expressionist framework.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mateo Manaure (18 October 1926 – 19 March 2018) was a Venezuelan modern artist. In Venezuela he is considered a master of abstractionism, and is known for his works in the University City of Caracas and for creating the…
