Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by May Stevens. It dates from 1971 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1971, this drawing by May Stevens combines collage and drawing techniques on paper. It integrates cut-and-pasted printed materials with pencil, ink, and chalk to form a layered composition. The work is part of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art, reflecting Stevens’s engagement with political and personal themes through intimate, hand-made forms.
Subject & Meaning
Two closed-eyed faces appear side by side, rendered in red pencil against a textured background of fragmented printed imagery.
Two closed-eyed faces appear side by side, rendered in red pencil against a textured background of fragmented printed imagery. The left face is simplified and abstract; the right is more defined, wearing a hat. Their stillness and symmetry suggest contemplation or mourning, while the crowd-like collage beneath may imply societal pressure or collective memory, hinting at themes of identity and invisibility.
Technique & Style
Stevens layered printed paper fragments—possibly from newspapers or magazines—to construct a muted, textured ground. Over this, she drew the faces with red pencil, adding subtle details in ink and chalk. The contrast between the bold, linear faces and the chaotic background creates visual tension, emphasizing individual presence amid mass media noise.
History & Provenance
The work entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation. It belongs to a series from the early 1970s in which Stevens explored feminist and political subjects through mixed-media drawing. No prior ownership records are publicly documented beyond its acquisition by the museum, suggesting it was likely made and retained by the artist before institutional recognition.
Context
Made during a period of heightened feminist activism and anti-war sentiment, the piece aligns with Stevens’s broader practice of using personal imagery to critique public power structures. The use of collage reflects the influence of Dada and feminist artists who repurposed mass media to challenge dominant narratives, turning everyday printed matter into political commentary.
Legacy
This drawing exemplifies Stevens’s contribution to feminist art through quiet, material-driven inquiry. It influenced later artists working with collage and portraiture to explore identity and erasure. Though not widely exhibited, its inclusion in MoMA’s collection affirms its role in documenting how personal expression could intersect with broader social critique in late 20th-century American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
May Stevens was an American feminist artist, political activist, educator, and writer.
