Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Morris Graves. It dates from 1944 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1944, this untitled work by Morris Graves combines watercolor and gouache applied to paper that is mounted on fabric.
Created in 1944, this untitled work by Morris Graves combines watercolor and gouache applied to paper that is mounted on fabric. The composition features a luminous disc at the upper edge, within which a faint, indistinct facial suggestion emerges, while a slender, vertically extending tree with feathery, undulating branches descends beneath it. The background is rendered in a soft, pale hue that allows the central elements to stand out.
Subject & Meaning
The piece juxtaposes a radiant sun—its vague visage hinting at a human presence—with a solitary tree whose branching limbs spread outward like reaching arms. This pairing evokes a dialogue between celestial light and earthly growth, a motif often employed by Graves to explore consciousness and the interconnection of natural and spiritual realms.
Technique & Style
Graves employed a layered approach, first laying washes of watercolor to establish atmospheric tone, then adding opaque gouache for the brighter sun and the tree’s intricate branches. The quick, loose strokes that form the foliage convey a sense of movement, while the mounting of paper on fabric provides a subtle texture that enhances the work’s muted, Northwest aesthetic.
History & Provenance
The drawing entered the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings. Though created during World War II, the work reflects the period when Graves was gaining wider recognition, preceding his broader national exposure in the 1950s as a leading figure of the Northwest School.
Artist & collection
Artist
Morris Cole Graves (August 28, 1910 – May 5, 2001) was an American painter. He was one of the earliest Modern artists from the Pacific Northwest to achieve national and international acclaim. His style, referred to by…
