Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an oil painting by the Abstract Expressionist artist Norman Lewis. It dates from 23 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Norman Lewis, an African‑American and Bermudian‑American artist, painted the untitled work in the early 1950s using oil on canvas. The piece belongs to the abstract expressionist movement and is currently held by the Museum of Modern Art. Its composition is dominated by vigorous, overlapping fields of color that generate a sense of immediacy and tension.
Subject & Meaning
Although the canvas is non‑representational, the painting alludes to urban Black experiences. Ambiguous silhouettes suggest figures, shadows, or fleeting presences, hinting at the social struggles and communal narratives that Lewis often examined through abstract means.
Technique & Style
Lewis applied thick, impasto brushstrokes that create a tactile surface, while bold black outlines delineate the swirling forms. The palette—bright yellows, deep blues, and saturated reds—operates more as an emotional language than a literal depiction, reflecting the artist’s commitment to conveying mood over realistic color.
History & Provenance
Created during the height of abstract expressionism, the painting entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection after being acquired in the mid‑20th century. Its presence in MoMA underscores Lewis’s role in expanding the movement’s scope to include African‑American perspectives.
Artist & collection
Artist
Norman Wilfred Lewis (July 23, 1909 – August 27, 1979) was an American painter, scholar, and teacher.
