Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Mikhail Larionov. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
This drawing shows a duck wearing a tall black hat, a dark coat, and a checkered skirt.
This drawing shows a duck wearing a tall black hat, a dark coat, and a checkered skirt. Its legs end in cloven hooves, and it’s carrying a round black sack. The duck’s beak is long, and its feet are pointed like a bird’s.
The sketch looks like a joke—maybe poking fun at formal clothes or how people dress up. The artist signed it "M.L. 921," but the date on the paper says 1921.
If you like weird animal drawings, check out Mikhail Larionov.
Overview
Created in 1921, this watercolor, ink, and pencil drawing by Mikhail Larionov is part of The Museum of Modern Art’s collection. It depicts an anthropomorphic duck dressed in human attire, rendered with loose, expressive lines and muted tones. The work carries a whimsical, satirical tone, blending animal form with human costume in a manner typical of Larionov’s experimental phase during his exile from Russia.
Subject & Meaning
The duck is clad in a tall black hat, a dark coat, and a checkered skirt, with cloven hooves replacing its feet and a round sack slung over its shoulder. Its elongated beak and avian feet create a dissonant hybrid form, suggesting parody of social pretension. The image may mock rigid class dress codes or the absurdity of human rituals, using animal symbolism to undercut seriousness.
Technique & Style
Larionov employed watercolor for soft washes, ink for sharp outlines, and pencil for subtle underdrawing, creating a layered yet spontaneous effect. The brushwork is fluid and unrefined, emphasizing gesture over detail. This approach reflects his engagement with avant-garde movements, where expressive freedom and visual wit took precedence over naturalistic representation.
History & Provenance
The work was signed 'M.L. 921' and dated 1921, aligning with Larionov’s time in Paris following his emigration from Russia. It entered The Museum of Modern Art’s collection in the mid-20th century, likely through acquisitions focused on Russian avant-garde artists. Its small scale and informal nature suggest it was a personal study rather than a commissioned piece.
Context
In early 1920s Paris, Larionov was part of a diaspora of Russian artists exploring surreal and satirical themes. This drawing reflects broader postwar cultural shifts, where traditional forms were questioned through absurdity. The duck’s attire may echo contemporary caricatures in European journals, where animals symbolized human folly in a climate of social upheaval.
Legacy
Though not among Larionov’s most widely exhibited works, this drawing exemplifies his playful engagement with identity and form. It contributes to understanding his broader interest in the grotesque and the humorous as tools of artistic critique. The piece remains a quiet but distinctive example of early 20th-century experimental drawing.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mikhail Fyodorovich Larionov was a Russian avant-garde painter who worked with radical exhibitors and pioneered the first approach to abstract Russian art.
